ANTH 3415 - Africa in Crisis

Goals: To learn about the cultural consequences for Africans of consistent exploitation of the continent’s natural resources and its human beings. To interrogate the reasons for said “exploitation,” and explore specific responses and resistances to socio-political turmoil in given locales.

Content: Immersion in current journalistic, literary, cultural, and cinematic representations of various “crises” on the continent. Students will become more aware of root causes of some of the strife and destitution they often associate with Africa as a result of Hollywood and mass media representations. The course is reading, film-viewing, and speaking-intensive. Students will learn a method of discussing emotionally charged issues (human experiences with genocide, corruption and brutality, drought, famine, political oppression, rape, AIDS, and so forth) by honoring all class members’ input and perspectives.

Taught: Alternate years, fall.

Prerequisite: None.

Credits: 4 credits