Imagining indigenous peoples in the long eighteenth century

Descriptif

This seminar will look at a selection of eighteenth-century texts in a variety of genres in which Indigenous peoples of North America are represented. As we explore the aesthetic and ideological implications of these texts, we will be placing them in their historical and productive context. Who wrote, for whom, and with which goals? Where were the texts published and sold? How did they uphold or challenge the colonial project (with its inherent violence and exploitation), and with what consequences? As we read the texts, we will look at issues such as: voice and authority, readers and function, gender and desire, economics and exploitation. Information on historical and cultural context will be provided by your teacher.