Episode 4 - Beyond the Western Canon: A Conversation with Faisal Javid and Eliza Kaminska-Benadat

How is it that lines from Omar Khayyam's poetry wind up in the pockets of World War I soldiers? And how far can literary and historical theories help us explain this extraordinary moment of cross-cultural contact? In this episode, I am joined by Faisal Javid (an Ertegun Scholar studying a Masters in Comparative Literature at the University of Oxford) and Eliza Kaminska-Benadat (a second-year History undergraduate at Oxford) to unravel the nuances of such questions. We consider the ways in which literary and historical frameworks can both invite new interpretations of narratives and risk simplifying stories to fit theoretical categories. Our various interests in comparative literature, medieval literature and Middle Eastern history brings an interdisciplinary approach towards studying non-Western narratives. We explore the value of comparative, global perspectives in historical and literary study as we pose the question of how far categories like 'postcolonial' actually work to decentre colonial pasts. As the very definition of literature constantly changes in today's digital age, even Bad Bunny's music offers an interesting insight into how we can reshape the boundaries created by such terminology. A range of writers and historical figures are placed into dialogue as we discuss Tayeb Salih's response to Joseph Conrad, Zora Neale Hurston's rejection of DuBois' theory of double consciousness and Fadhma Amrouche's memoir. Our exploration segues into an examination of how literature is taught and framed in education systems more broadly. We ultimately turn to the problematic stigmatisation of studying the humanities in many educational and cultural settings, including South Asian contexts. No prior knowledge of any of the topics we discuss is needed! All texts and theories are explained throughout our conversation in an accessible manner. Content warning: Brief reference to self-harm in relation to the content of the book, 'Heart Lamp.' If you enjoyed this episode and want to stick around for the next one, do hit follow and review the show! Music credits go to Isobel (Issi) Marklew.