Introduction to the Culture and Politics of the Caribbean
AFAM 216
Fall 2011 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
ANTH 216 |
The Caribbean is a region that has long been foundational to both global processes and theorizations of "the global." This course will expose students to central themes in Caribbean studies, both historical and contemporary. While units of analysis have been assigned to particular weeks for the purpose of course organization, it will become clear as we progress that the Caribbean offers no such division. For instance, our readings on color and class in the region will be deeply rooted in those on colonialism, and our work on cultural nationalism will necessarily reference our "gender" readings. Michel-Rolph Trouillot has written that the Caribbean proves a challenge to anthropologists because of its lack of a "gatekeeping concept"--a singular unit of analysis that would neatly stand in for the region (e.g., religion). This course takes that claim seriously and aims to introduce students to the dynamism (geographically, culturally, and theoretically) of the Caribbean. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Writing
Weekly response papers develop students' writing skills.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
None |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (ANTH) |
Major Readings:
Danticat, Edwidge. THE FARMING OF BONES, New York: Soho Press, 1998.
Sheller, Mimi. CONSUMING THE CARIBBEAN: FROM ARAWAKS TO ZOMBIES, New York: Routledge, 2003.
Maurer, Bill. RECHARTING THE CARIBBEAN: LAND, LAW, AND CITIZENSHIP IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, 1997.
Mintz, Sidney. SWEETNESS AND POWER: THE PLACE OF SUGAR IN MODERN HISTORY, 1985.
Munasinghe, Viranjini. CALLALOO OR TOSSED SALAD?: EAST INDIANS AND THE CULTURAL POLITICS OF IDENTITY IN TRINIDAD, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 2001.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Grades:
Weekly summaries 15%
Paper #1 25%
Paper #2 25%
Final Paper 35% |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Attendance is crucial in this course. To ensure that all students are consistently and productively engaged in the material for this course, there will be weekly one-page summaries of each week's reading due at the start of class each Thursday. Additionally, students will select a Caribbean news source (e.g., website, newspaper) and collect articles from this source over the course of the semester. These articles will form the basis of your final paper, as you will be asked to 'read' them alongside the themes of the course. There will also be two papers (5-7 pages each) due for this course. The topics for these essays will be distributed one week before they are due. |
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