Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus: a Historiographical Perspective

Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus: a Historiographical Perspective

Wiem Krifa

 University of Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract

Nights at The Circus (1984) is a provocative novel, written by the British writer Angela Carter. It is a feminist postmodern work which combines fantastic events, to convey historiographical happenings. Contrary to the postmodern critics who advance the principle of death of history, feminist postmodernists tend to reassess history, from which they were excluded, by uniting fantasy and history. Historiographical metafiction is an attempt to rewrite history from a female critical angle. In Nights at The Circus, the narrative tracks back the past historical events of the 1890’s, with an endeavour to plan a more successful female future. Carter’s dealing with history implies a corrective political undertone that pays tribute to the marginalized females. The postmodern herstoricism is intermingled with fantasy to inscribe a more even history.

As an example, we can take the character of Fevvers in Nights at The Circus who evokes Margaret Thatcher: The iron Lady. This example is used to introduce hidden historical truths. Fevvers with her fantastic wings is the symbolic "New Woman" of the late 19th century who seeks to enjoy her economic, social and civil rights. She unveils the historical and political atrocities imposed on women, and deconstructs the patriarchal identity. Through the female herstoricism, Fevvers mould and reconstruct "The New Man" who can fit "The New Woman”. Walser, the journalist who embarks on writing the biography of fevvers is deployed by her to integrate into history, all the female tales that have been erased from the bygone historical records. Throughout the whole novel, fevvers cherishes her clock as the emblem of history. When she loses it during the train crash, she lives the Siberian experience, which is depicted by her, as being before history. For Fevvers, as a female representative, history is vital, consequently should be revisited to incorporate women into it.

Key words: feminism, postmodernism, historiography, herstory, fantasy

Historicity and Cameroonian Fiction: Writing the Nation

Historicity and Cameroonian Fiction: Writing the Nation

Victor N.  Gomia

 Delaware State University, USA

Abstract

The peculiarity of Cameroonian fiction is seen in part by its relation to history, considered both on the one hand, as events that unfolded and, on the other hand, the narrating of those events. The literature does not limit itself to the colonialist cum neo-colonialist exploits and the peoples’ resistance to it; it is as well carving out an identifiable politico-cultural consciousness as part of the process of coming to terms with the new world reality. From Fedinand Oyono, Mongo Beti and Ngong Winkuo who focus their attention to the eventful colonial era through Linus Asong, Francis Nyamnjoh and Shaddrack Ambanasom who are preoccupied with the upheavals of the postcolonial setting, the Cameroonian novelists are spinning an inciting yarn in the loom of postcolonial discourse. In this paper, I elect to explore selected Cameroonian fiction as analogous to the nation building process.

Keywords: Cameroonian, History, Nation, Colonial, Postcolonial

An Action Research on a School Drama Community Service-Learning Project at Danhai Civic Theater in Taiwan

An Action Research on a School Drama Community Service-Learning Project at Danhai Civic Theater in Taiwan

Shu-Chin Su

Danshui Campus of Aletheia University, Taiwan

Abstract

This action research explores an experienced drama teacher’s experiences and observations toward a school drama play at a community service -learning project from Aletheia University in Taiwan. The action research covers practices through a six month cyclical process which involve planning, acting, observing, evaluating, and reflecting at a school community project to arrive at better understanding of several issues including language improvement, immediacy behaviors, and school-community relationships. Results indicated that having a short-term drama play caused severe pressure and heavy work load on faculty teacher; therefore, it might be the short period of time is not sufficient for a thorough preparation. The budget for the drama play was limited and the professional field of educational arts was also neglected. The play performed off campus at Danhai Civic Center which is troublesome, such as the schedule, the absence and ignorance of the theater staffs, and the facilities are not sufficient. However, the experience of using drama activities in the community helps students to have incredible memories in their lives. These findings may help educators solve problems on how to close the gap between schools and communities and make room for smooth transitions for building up campus-community services in the future. 

Keywords: Action research, Drama/theater in education, School community service-learning

The Other Side of the Wall: Technology and Borders in Sleep Dealer

The Other Side of the Wall: Technology and Borders in Sleep Dealer

Samantha Kountz

 University of Kent, UK

Abstract

Technological development is an essential component in preserving a globalised economic system. Job sectors must maintain a human workforce and therefore involve some sort of physical international border crossing. Trade, labor, and immigration between the American and Mexican border has been, and still is, the source of the most controversial border interactions for the last six decades. The U.S. currently lives under the paradox of harboring hostility towards Mexican immigrants, yet accepting their willingness to perform labor within the country that Americans themselves do not want to do. If America can extract non-physical labor from, for example calling centers around the world, how can they do the same with that of the physical, thereby eliminating the need to care for the worker? Alex Rivera’s film sleep dealer envisions a dystopian world where technology is used by various corporations to extract labor without the “hassle” of supporting their laborers, but is revealed to have the positive value of facilitating a virtual experience of the world, despite some peoples’ economic disadvantages.

Keywords: Immigration, Technology, Film, Mexico, Labor, Science-fiction

Othering in the EFL Classroom: An Action Research Study

Othering in the EFL Classroom: An Action Research Study

Qais S. Ahmadi

Southwestern College Winfield, Kansas, USA

Abstract

The purpose of this action research study is to raise the comfort level of Qatari college students by investigating the phenomenon of 'othering' (stereotyping) in the classroom. The review of the literature helped establish theoretical framework for 'othering'. This study was conducted in the researcher's beginning-intermediate (level 2) classroom in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) program. Data collection sources implemented for this study are interviews for both student and personnel participants, a survey for personnel, and a questionnaire for students.

Key words: Linguistic Imperialism, Othering, Self vs. Other, Orientalism, Anglicism