Severance - Ling Ma

• Engels
• WO
• Studiejaar 6

Severance - Ling Ma

Isa Kwakkelaar & Stan van de Laarschot

Contents

• Learning goals
• Brief summary
• Discussion
• Group assignment
• Evaluation
• Conclusion

Learning goals

After this assignment, I will:

1. have a deeper understanding of the primary and secondary texts.
2. have a greater knowledge of the concept of global racial capitalism.
3. have the ability to accurately incorporate this knowledge in the classroom.

A Brief Summary

The Life of Candace Chen

• Chinese Immigrant, who moved to the U.S.
•  Works for Spectra during the first months of the apocalypse
• Tries to find a safe location with other survivors
• Finds out that she is pregnant
• Eventually attempts to survive in Chicago with her daughter

The Story: The Early Days and Candace

• Follows the life of Candace Chen, both past and present
• Describes the spread of a disease (Shen Fever)
• Shen Fever turns humans into zombified creatures, society decays. 
•  Candace worked for Spectra, until her contract expired
• Candace flees the city, eventually taken in by other survivors.

The Story: The Survivors and Shen Fever

• The group of survivors loots houses and kills fever victims.
• They travel to Illinois, guided by their leader, Bob.
•  A survivor contract Shen Fever after nostalgic moments
• Candace concludes that nostalgia causes the illness.
• Members of the group start dying
• It is discovered that Candace is pregnant. 
• Bob contracts the illness
• Candace leaves for Chicago 

How do you describe
crisis/apocalypse?

How could Ling Ma's take on
zombies be seen as commentary
on contemporary society?

Would you use Ling Ma's Severance in
your classroom? Why or why not?

Group assignment

1. Form groups of 3 
2. Imagine you're teaching a class that predominantly consists of white students. How would you teach them about literature focusing on racial issues? 
3. Create an assignment on Ling Ma's Severance as an example for your answer

Share your ideas!

Tell the class what you could come up with

What did you learn today?

Any questions?

Thank you for listening!