AFRS 360 - Problems in Cultural Analysis

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Covers a variety of current issues in modern anthropology in terms of ongoing discussion among scholars of diverse opinions rather than a rigid body of fact and theory.

May be repeated for credit if topic has changed.

Topic for 2026/27b: Caribbean Voices. (Same as ANTH 360 ) 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. This seminar attends to 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 seminar 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.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: CLS