Haiti: Myths and Realities
AFAM 176
Fall 2009 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
ANTH 176 |
Haiti has long been regarded as something of an oddity within the Caribbean. Branded the "nightmare republic" since it gained independence in 1804, in current popular imagination, it remains conceptually incarcerated as a failed republic incapable of self governance, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, and the birthplace of voodoo. This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to deconstruct the myths and realities in these and other popular representations of Haiti. In addition, it critically examines the differences and similarities that Haiti shares with other countries in the region. The course also emphasizes the continuing impact of the island's colonial history on the present. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, slavery and independence; the state and the nation; politics and socioeconomic changes; gender/race/color/class and identity; religion and popular culture; and migration and the diaspora. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Intercultural Literacy, Interpretation
Students will engage with various social and literary theories to deconstruct the dominant narratives that encapsulate popular and outdated views of Haiti.
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS ANTH |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AFAM-MN)(ANTH)(CBST-MN) |
Major Readings:
Dandicat, Edwidge. 2007. Brother, I am Dying. New York: Knoft.
Dupuy, Alex. 2006. The Prophet and Power. New York: Rowman & Littlefield.
James, C. L. R. 1963.The Black Jacobins. New York: Vintage Press.
McAlister, Elizabeth. 2002. Rara: Vodou, Power and Performance in Haiti. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Philotecte, Rene. 2005. Massacre River. New York: New Directions Press.
Ernesto Sagas. 2000. Race and Politics in the Dominican Republic. University Press of Florida.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly questions, three short papers, in-class presentation and a final exam |
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