AFRS 240 - Cultural Localities

Semester Offered: Fall
1 unit(s)

(Same as
Detailed study of the cultures of people living in a particular area of the world, including their politics, economy, worldview, religion, expressive practices, and historical transformations. Included is a critical assessment of different approaches to the study of culture. Areas covered vary from year to year and may include Europe, Africa, North America, India and the Pacific.

May be repeated for credit if the topic has changed.

Topic for 2024/25b: Caribbean Voices. (Same as ANTH 240 and LALS 240 ) The Caribbean occupies a powerful position within the Western imagination. Foundational to the development of Western political, economic, and ideological hegemony, the Caribbean today is often imagined in the singular, as a tourist paradise of palm trees and resorts. Yet the Caribbean is a diverse region with a complex history and present, seven official languages, and twenty-four-plus nations. In this course, students learn about Caribbean peoples and cultures, their migrations and diasporas, rich and diverse artistic and religious traditions, globally circulating music and styles, influential intellectual and social movements, and political formations that challenge prevailing notions of nationalism, transnationalism, and globalization. Through literature, film, poetry, and art, the course foregrounds Caribbean perspectives, while musical forms like Calypso, Reggae, and Dancehall familiarize students with Caribbean expressive culture and public performance. Ethnographic studies provide a comparative framework for students’ semester-long research on a particular country or topic. Colleen Cohen and Louis Römer.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS