cultural diversity in the united states (flk 280) -- spring 2012

8/2/2019 Cultural Diversity in the United States (FLK 280) -- Spring 2012

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CULTURAL DIVERSITYin the

UNITED STATESFLK 280 Folk Studies Spring 2012 MWF 11:30 PM to 12:25 PM FAC 249 WKUINSTRUCTORJenniferJoyJamesonFolkStudiesM.A.ProgramE-MAIL:[email protected]:FAC237OFFICEHOURS:Fridays,12:30-1:30p.m.intheMorganRoom(FAC248)orbyappt.

INTRODUCTIONInthiscoursewewillexaminetheculturalwaysinwhichAmericanslivetheirindividualandcollectivelivesinaglobalizedworld.WewillfocusonthedifferencesinvariousAmericanexperiences,examiningmulticulturalformsofexpressions,customs,identity,andworldviews.Wewilladdressthewaysinwhichsuchexperiencesareshapedanddefinedbyfactorsofrace,ethnicity,gender,physicalability,socio-economicclass,politicalpersuasion,religiousand/orspiritualbelief,sexualorientation,region,andage.Thiscoursewillpayspecialattentiontothelivesimmigrantandrefugeepopulations,ornewcomerAmericans,throughreadings,films,andservice-learningopportunities.CulturalDiversityintheUSfulfillstheCategoryEGeneralEducationrequirement(WorldCulturesand

AmericanCulturalDiversity).Itwillhelpstudentstomeetthisgeneraleducationgoal:anappreciationofthecomplexityandvarietyintheworldscultures.COURSE OBJECTIVES

RecognizethecontributionstoAmericancultureandsocietyofavarietyofsocialorculturalgroupsandthewaysinwhichthesegroupsarerelatedandinterdependent.

IdentifythefactthatdifferentgroupsinAmericaaredefined(anddefinethemselves)bysharedculture,history,ancestry,language,experiences,andtraditionsinvolvingfood,belief,narrative,rituals,celebrations,andmore.

ExaminecriticallythewaysinwhichtheUSisdiverseintermsofrace,ethnicity,gender,physicalability,socio-economicclass,politicalpersuasion,religiousand/orspiritualbelief,sexualorientation,region,andage.

Identifywaysinwhichonecultureorgroupmaybefavoredoveranother,includingethnocentrism,stereotyping,prejudice,discrimination,oppression,andvariousformsofprivilege.

Explorehowthesedifferencesaffectgroupsandindividualsintermsofjustice,empowerment,andself-determination,andcriticallyexaminehowwerespondtoculturaldifferenceinourlives.


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DISCLAIMERInordertoexplorethewaysinwhichweareallmembersofadiversenation,wewilleachneedtoapproachthiscoursewithanopenmindandadesiretolearnaboutourselvesandaboutotherswhoweperceiveaslikeusornotlikeus.Inthe21stcentury,culturaldiversityintheUnitedStatesisincreasingrapidlyinanumberofways,asarethe

opportunitiesforAmericanstointeractwithpeoplefromothercountriesandcultures.Dealingwithdiversityinapositiveandflexiblewayisacrucialskillinthemodernworld.Therewillmostlikelybereadingsanddiscussionsduringthecourseofthesemesterthatsurpriseyou,makeyouuncomfortable,orevenangeryoubecausetheypresentperspectivesinoppositiontoyourpersonalbeliefs.Thepurposeofthiscourseisnottoadvocateanyparticularpoliticalagendaorworldview,buttoexploretheculturaldiversityofournation.Thismeansthatyouareencouragedandfreetoexpressthoughtfulopinionswhichmaydifferfrommyownandfromthatofyourclassmates,howeveryoumustalsotolistenrespectfullytoyourclassmates,andseriouslyconsiderpointsofviewthatmaydifferfromyourown.Benicetoeachother!

COURSE REQUIREMENTSNewCulturalExperienceEssay.................10%WeeklyReflections......... 10%Midterm...................................... 20%Final................................... 20%ServiceLearningorResearchProject........................ 20%Participation.............................................................. 10%TOTALPOSSIBLE.100%*Imayoccasionallymakeextracreditassignmentsavailable.

Ireservetherighttomakechangestothissyllabus,andwillnotifyyouinadvanceof

doingso.

TEXTBOOK + COURSE READINGSCovington,Dennis.2009(1995).SalvationonSandMountain:Snake-Handlingand RedemptioninSouthernAppalachia.Cambridge:DaCapoPress.

Lehrer,WarrenandJudithSloan.2003.CrossingtheBLVD:Strangers,Neighbors,Aliensina NewAmerica.NewYorkandLondon:W.W.Norton &Company.(AbbreviatedincoursescheduleasBLVD.)

AllotherreadingswillbeavailableviaourclassBlackboardpage.


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NEW CULTURAL EXPERIENCE ESSAYYouwillwriteoneshort(2page)essaydescribinganewexperiencewithaculturalgroup/traditionoutsideofyourown.Detailswillbegiveninahandout.

WEEKLY REFLECTIONSEachFriday,youarerequiredtoturninapersonalreflectiononthepreviousFriday,Monday,andWednesdaystopics.Reflectionsshouldbeapproximately200250words,doublespaced,andhandedinhardcopytomeattheendofclass.Sharewhatyoulearned,whatsurprisedyou,orexplainsomethingthatyoudisagreedwith,andwhy.Reflectionsarepurposefullylooseinformyoumaybeascreativeasyoulike,aslongasyouarerespectfulofthetopicsandculturesdiscussed.Latereflectionswillresultinpointdeductions.SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM

Youhavetheoptiontoparticipateinaservice-learningprogramwithmembersoftheBowlingGreenrefugeeandimmigrantcommunity.Inpartnershipwithlocalrefugeeandimmigrantresettlementagencies,theprogramwillpairgroupsoffourstudentswithrefugeefamiliesinordertolearnaboutthefamilyscultureandinturnteachthemaboutAmericanculture.ThisprojectwillallowyoutoexperiencethegreatdiversityofculturesandpeoplesthathavecometobeapartoflifeinBowlingGreeninrecentyears.Itwillalsoallowyoutobecomeapartofafamilysadjustmentprocess.Youwillbeaskedtowritea2to3-pagepaperattheendoftheprojectand,asagroup,youmustpresentyourworktotheclass.ORINDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER + GROUP RESEARCH PRESENTATIONIfyouchoosenottoparticipateintheservice-learningprogram,youwillinsteadbreakintoorbeassignedtosmallgroupswhereyouwillselectatopicorissuerelevanttothediscourseonculturaldiversityintheUnitedStates.Youwillwriteanindividual10-pageresearch/reflectionpaperonthetopic,andalsoworkwithyourgroupondevelopingacohesiveclasspresentationdetailingyourownfindings/perspectivesandalsopresentingresearchedinformationaboutyourselectedtopicorissue.Yourfinalgradewillincludeanaverageofyourindividualandgroupprojects.Moredetailsaboutbothoptionswillbegivenlater.

CLASS PARTICIPATIONYouareexpectedtoparticipateinclassdiscussions.Inordertothoughtfullydiscussissuesthroughoutthissemester,itwillbecrucialthatyouparticipateandvoiceyouropinionsandreactionstoclassmaterialsanddiscussions.Thisclasscannotworkwithoutparticipationandyourcontributions.


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ATTENDANCE POLICYYouareallowedthreeunexcusedabsences.Eachabsencebeyondthreewillresultina5pointdeduction(outofapossible100points)fromyourparticipationgrade.ExcusedabsencesincludemedicalandfamilyemergenciesanduniquecircumstancesinwhichyouandImakeaprioragreement.Beinglateforclassmayresultinanabsencefortheday.If

youareabsent,youareresponsibleforconsultingwithyourclassmatesaboutwhatyouvemissedand/ormeetingwithmeduringmyofficehours.Studentswhoarrivelateshouldcheckwithmeafterclasstomakesureyourarrivalwasnoted.Dontforget!

LATE WORK + MAKE-UP EXAMSAllpapersandexamsmustbeturnedinontime.Writtenworkthatisturnedinlatewillbemarkeddownonefullgrade(fromaBtoaCforexample)foreachclassitislate.Lateworkmaybeturnedinwithoutpenaltyonlyinthecaseofpriorconsultationforlegitimatereasons(contactmeinpersonorbyemailorphonepriortomissingtheduedateforapaperoranexam),orinthecaseofseriousemergencywithdocumentation.

ELECTRONIC DEVICESPleasesilenceallcellphonesandotherelectronicdevicesbeforecomingtoclass.Obviously,youmaynotusesuchdevicesduringclass.Theuseoflaptopsfornotetakingispermissible;however,studentsusinglaptopsforotherpurposesduringclasswilllosethisprivilege.

FOLKLORE MINOR + FOLK STUDIES CLUB

StudentsatWKUhavetheopportunitytotakeavarietyoffolkloreclassesandmayalsominorinfolklore.AFolkloreMinorisfun,challenging,andgivesauniqueperspectiveoncontemporaryAmericanlife.Italsohelpsdevelopimportantcriticalandproblemsolvingskillsforuseinthecomplexpersonal,social,occupationalandpoliticalenvironmentsinwhichweliveandwork.Theseskillswillmakeyouabettercandidateforemployment,foradmissionintograduateprogramsinmanyfields,andforadvancementonjustaboutanycareerpath.CoursesincludeCulturalDiversity,UrbanFolklore,Foodways,RootsofSouthernCulture,FolkArt,SupernaturalFolklore,African-AmericanFolklore,andmanyothers.TheDepartmentofFolkStudiesandAnthropologyalsooffersanM.A.inFolklore.Formoreinformation,seeanyFolkStudiesfacultymemberorgotowww.wku.edu/folkstudies.

POPULAR CULTURE STUDIESThePopularCultureprogramoffersWKUundergraduatesthechancetobroadentheirunderstandingoftheartsandcultureofeverydaylifeincludingsuchareasastelevision,film,music,sports,advertising,customsandrituals.Throughinnovativeinterdisciplinarycourseworkthemajorhelpsstudentscriticallyanalyzeawiderangeofpopularcultural


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forms,theirusesbyaudiences,andtheirimpactonthebroadersocial,politicalandeconomiclandscape.Ifyouareinterestedinlearningmoreaboutthisexcitingandinnovativeprogram,contactyourinstructororcheckoutthePopularCultureStudieswebsiteatwww.wku.edu/pop.

WOMENS STUDIESTheWomensStudiesProgram,offeringanundergraduateminor,broadenswomensandmensknowledgeofgenderdynamics,globallyandhistorically,withanemphasisonissuescentraltowomenslives.Throughaninterdisciplinaryclassroomexperience,communityoutreach,andspecialevents,theWomensStudiesProgramadvancesunderstandingofthesocialandculturalinstitutionsandpracticesthataffectus.Formoreinformation,seetheWomensStudieswebsiteatwww.wku.edu/Dept/Academic/womenstudies.CERTIFICATE IN CITIZENSHIP AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

TheInstituteforCitizenshipandSocialResponsibilityatWKUpromotescarefulreflectiononcivicvalues,andcriticalanalysisofcontemporarysocial,economic,andpoliticalissues.Thecertificateisaninterdisciplinaryprogramfocusingthatpreparesstudentstobeeffectivecitizens,developingthecapacitiesandskillsofcommunityorganizingandcivicengagementaswaysofachievingsocialchangeandthecommongood.Thecertificateprogramincludesbothcourseworkandco-curricularpublicwork.Formoreinformation,visitwww.wku.edu/icsr.

THE LEARNING CENTER (TLC)

Shouldyourequireacademicassistancewiththiscourse,oranyGenEdcourse,thereareseveralplacesthatcanprovideyouwithhelp.TLCtutorsareavailableinmostundergraduatesubjectsandcourselevels.TLCislocatedintheAcademicAdvisingandRetentionCenter,DUCA-339.Phone745-6254,www.wku.edu/tlc.Hours:M-TH8a.m.-9p.m.,F8-4,Sun4-9.

STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICESIncompliancewithuniversitypolicy,studentswithdisabilitieswhorequireaccommodations(academicadjustmentsand/orauxiliaryaidsorservices)forthiscoursemustcontacttheOfficeforStudentDisabilityServicesinDUCA-200ofthe

StudentSuccessCenterinDowningUniversityCenter.PleaseDONOTrequestaccommodationsdirectlyfromtheprofessororinstructorwithoutaletterofaccommodationfromtheOfficeforStudentDisabilityServices.


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COURSE SCHEDULEYoumustbringreadingstoclass!WEEK1Monday,Jan.23Reviewsyllabus

Wednesday,Jan.25IntrotoCourseThemes BLVD:Introduction:Warren/JudithItinerary MINER,BodyRitualoftheNaciremaFriday,Jan.27$100SolutionIntro InClass:NadiaDeLeon,CommunityEngagementCoordinator,ALIVECenterWEEK2$100SOLUTIONTRAININGJan.30,Feb.1,Feb.3 Dr.BernardStreneckyleads$100SolutiontrainingWEEK3

Monday,Feb.6Worldview TOELKEN,FolkloreandCulturalWorldview:CultureandMeaningWednesday,Feb.8WorldviewII TOELKEN,FolkloreandCulturalWorldview:CultureandMeaning(contd) *Meetingtimewithgroups*Friday,Feb.10Multivocality,SpaceandPlace FILM:HalstedStreetUSA WEEK4CASESTUDYinWORLDVIEWMonday,Feb.13 COVINGTON,SalvationonSandMountain

Wednesday,Feb.15 COVINGTON,SalvationonSandMountain FILM:InJesusName:TakingUpSerpents(1991)Friday,Feb.17 COVINGTON,SalvationonSandMountain *Meetingtimewithgroups*WEEK5Monday,Feb.20Identity BLVD:QueensInternationalHighSchool(p.346-365)Wednesday,Feb.22IdentityII

FILM:WildWheels(1992)Friday,Feb.24Privilege,Prejudice,Oppression McINTOSH,WhitePrivilegeandMalePrivilege ***DUE:NewCulturalExperienceEssay***


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WEEK6Monday,Feb.27Privilege,Prejudice,OppressionII LUSTIGandKOESTER,CulturalBiasesandInterculturalCommunication *Meetingtimewithgroups*Wednesday,Feb.29MidtermReview

Friday,March2MIDTERMSPRINGBREAK:March5-9WEEK7Monday,March12ReligiousDiversity HAYDAR,VeiledIntentions:DontJudgeaMuslimGirlbyHerCovering BLVD:TenDeitiesinaSuitcase(p.62-71)Wednesday,March14ReligiousDiversityII READINGTBA FILM:TremblingBeforeG_D

Friday,March16ReligiousDiversityIII FILM:TremblingBeforeG_DWEEK8Monday,March19Gender,Sexism,Heterosexism LORBER,NighttoHisDay:TheSocialConstructionofGender FEATHERSTONE,BoysWillBeGirlsWednesday,March21RacismIntro FILM:Race:ThePowerofanIllusionTheDifferenceBetweenUsFriday,March23Race/EthnicAdvantageandConflict TAKAKI,DifferentMirror

BLVD:TheLhotshampas(p.86-109)WEEK9Monday,March26Class,ClassismandLookism MANTSIOS,ClassinAmerica2006 FILM:PeopleLikeUs:SocialClassinAmericaWednesday,March28ClassismandRacialInequality OLIVERandSHAPIRO,Race,Wealth,andEquality HOOKS,WhitePoverty:ThePoliticsofInvisibilityFriday,March30Race,Class,andCommunity FILM:VoicesofCabrini:RemakingChicago'sPublicHousing

FILM:Race:ThePowerofanIllusionTheHouseWeLiveIn


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WEEK10Monday,April2RefugeeCaseStudy FILM:GodGrewTiredofUsWednesday,April4RefugeeCaseStudy FILM:GodGrewTiredofUs

Friday,April6RefugeeandImmigrantConflict:War BLVD:BehindtheStripClubBar(p.110-119) BLVD:OutofKabul(p.162-177) BLVD:IfThereisNoDanceThereisNoLife(p.230-241)WEEK11Monday,April9RefugeeandImmigrantArts WeavingsofWar:FabricsofMemory,Ch.1 *Meetingtimewithgroups*Wednesday,April11NOCLASS!([email protected])Friday,April13NOCLASS!([email protected])

WEEK12Monday,April16AbleismandAdultism ASHLEYandDEBORAH,HowtoCurseinSignLanguage KIVEL,Adultism Wednesday,April18YouthMovements MENDOZA-DENTON,MuyMacha:GenderandIdeologyinGangGirlsDiscourse aboutMake-Up Friday,April20Foodways BLVD:TheBrothersRahman/ElSayed(p.180-195) NARAYAN,TheGodofSmallFeasts

BARAKA,SoulFood NPR,CookingUpChangeWEEK13Monday,April23MusicandCommunity BLVD:AWorldofDifference(p.260-267) BLVD:GogolBordello(p.376-395+Exit) *Meetingtimewithgroups*Wednesday,April25CATCHUP/FinalReview***DUE:Service-Learning+IndividualResearchProjectPapers***Friday,April27PresentationDay1

WEEK14Monday,April30PresentationDay2Wednesday,May2PresentationDay3Friday,May4PresentationDay4 FINALSWEEK:May7-11

cultural diversity in the united states (flk 280) -- spring 2012

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