Critical Comparative Studies

Catalog description

What is 'culture'? Where can we observe it and how can we study it? And, most importantly for a globalizing world: Can we compare 'cultures'? What are the assumptions and parameters that would make such comparison possible in the first place? This course addresses the forces and concerns central to understanding culture and cultural difference. Discussions will pay attention to both the global and local/regional levels on which culture can be observed and compared. Understandings of culture touch upon many forces and concerns, including questions of gender, ideology, religion, nationalism and colonialism. By building a firm understanding of the theoretical approaches to culture, this course will explore the toolbox of comparative cultural studies. 001292