CURRENT TEACHING POSITION
Lecturer in English Literature
Department of English
Kateel Ashok Pai Memorial College
In this role, I teach undergraduate courses in literary theory, world literature, and cultural studies. My teaching aims to introduce students to the richness of literary traditions while equipping them with the analytical tools necessary for advanced literary study.
TEACHING AREAS
My teaching focuses primarily on core areas within English literary studies, particularly literary theory and global literary traditions. These subjects enable students to develop both analytical skills and a deeper understanding of the cultural and intellectual contexts in which literature is produced and interpreted.
LITERARY THEORY
Courses in literary theory introduce students to the major intellectual movements that have shaped modern literary criticism. Through the study of foundational theoretical texts, students learn to analyse literature through different interpretive frameworks, including structuralism, poststructuralism, Marxism, feminism, postcolonial theory, and cultural studies.
In these courses, emphasis is placed on understanding how theoretical perspectives transform our reading of literary texts and how critical theory shapes contemporary literary scholarship.
WORLD LITERATURE
Teaching world literature allows students to engage with literary works across diverse cultural, linguistic, and historical contexts. These courses encourage students to understand literature as part of a global network of cultural exchange and intellectual dialogue.
Through the study of texts from multiple traditions, students examine themes such as colonialism, migration, cultural identity, and modernity, while developing an appreciation for the plurality of literary voices that shape world literature.
CULTURAL STUDIES
Courses in cultural studies explore the relationship between literature, culture, and social structures. Students examine how cultural practices, media, and institutions shape the production and interpretation of literary texts.
Particular attention is given to questions of power, ideology, representation, and identity. Through interdisciplinary approaches, cultural studies encourages students to connect literary analysis with broader debates in sociology, media studies, and political thought.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My teaching is grounded in the belief that literature is not merely a body of texts but a dynamic intellectual field through which students can engage with complex questions about culture, identity, ethics, and the human condition. In my classroom, literary works are approached not only as aesthetic artefacts but also as critical sites where philosophical, historical, and political ideas are negotiated.
I aim to cultivate in students the ability to read attentively, think critically, and situate literary texts within broader theoretical and cultural frameworks. Through close textual analysis and theoretical discussion, students are encouraged to explore how literature reflects and challenges social realities, cultural traditions, and evolving intellectual paradigms.
My pedagogical approach combines traditional literary scholarship with contemporary theoretical perspectives. By introducing students to key critical frameworks—including structuralism, poststructuralism, cultural studies, and posthuman theory—I seek to develop their ability to interpret texts in relation to larger questions about language, power, representation, and knowledge.
Equally important in my teaching is the cultivation of an open and intellectually engaging learning environment. I encourage students to participate actively in discussion, articulate their interpretations, and develop independent critical perspectives. Literature classrooms should function as spaces where ideas are debated, assumptions are questioned, and new intellectual possibilities emerge.
FUTURE TEACHING INTERESTS
Alongside my current teaching areas, I am interested in developing courses that engage with emerging interdisciplinary areas in literary studies, including:
Posthumanism and Literature
Artificial Intelligence and Narrative
Affect studies
Literature and Technology
Contemporary Global Fiction
These areas reflect the evolving relationship between literature, technology, and human identity in the twenty-first century.