Word Literatures: Third World

• Engels
• HBO
• Studiejaar 2

Word Literatures: Third World

Rubian Gerritsen, Duygu Sönmez, Leidi Correa Contreras, Sander Geven

ENN-V2B

What is 'Third World'?

Questions for you, while watching

• What stood out to you?
• How do your initial views on the Third World relate to the video?

1. What stood out to you?
2. How do your initial views on the Third World relate to the video?

What stood out for us:

• The video has to have English subtitles.
• The woman talks about how she would never have survived without the help of the Red Cross.
• At the start of the video the music and video footage is quite depressing, but once the Red Cross appears and "saves" them the music and video footage turns happy.

Third World Definition

The term “Third world (countries)” has had a variation of meaning depending on the context: 

Originally: Countries not aligned with the US(first world/capitalism) nor the USSR(second world/communism). 

Currently: Any underdeveloped society or social conditions, it describes economically poor and non-industrialized countries.

With elements of the 'Third World' in mind, write a short paragraph (3-5 sentences) about: how would you write about Africa?

Read: How to write about Africa and try and find 2 literary devices

What literary devices did you find?

Literary Devices

Parody: Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West.

Hyperbole and Imagery: "Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty." 

Satire: "She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history ; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment."

These characters should buzz (onomatopoeia) around your main hero, making him look good.

Literary Devices

Personifications: Hero and Starving African

Hyperbole: The descriptions of the characters are exaggerated for effect, such as "Her breasts are flat and empty" and "Her children are all delinquent."

imagery: The Starving African: "Wanders the refugee camp nearly naked", "Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies", "Her breasts are flat and empty"

How did your short paragraph align with or differ from the text?

Submit one sentence from the text and one sentence from your story that suit each other.

Third World Activity

Assignment: find out why your appointed country has received the 'third world' label.

Possible research topics: 

• Welfare
• Poverty
• Education
• Acces to clean water and food

Group 1: Congo Kinshasa

Group 2: Mali

Group 3: Angola

Group 4: Sudan

Share your findings!