Semester at Sea Course Syllabus Colorado State University, Academic Partner
Voyage: Fall 2017 Discipline: Ethnic Studies Course Number and Title: ETST 412 Africa and African Diaspora (Focus on In Search of Diaspora Literacy) Faculty Name: Abena P.A. Busia Semester Credit Hours: 3
Meeting: A Day 1100-1220, Kaisersaal Port Prerequisites: None
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a consideration of the African cultural roots of contemporary African-American aesthetic practices, and the ways these can influence or direct our critical thinking about and readings of contemporary African-American Literature and African Diaspora literatures. The question “What Is Africa To Me?” can be sensed hovering over works as diverse as August Wilson’s plays, Toni Morrison’s fictions, Ntozake Shange’s essays, and Kamau Brathwaite’s poetry. This course however focuses on the gendered ways in which Africa is ‘re-membered’, as legacy and metaphor, in twentieth century Black literature and culture by women writers of the “old” and “new” diasporas. With reference to a wide range of African American and Continental African cultural texts such as Quilts, Paintings and Collages, Sculpture, Music and Cookery Books, this course will focus on the literature and cultural production of Black Women. Juxtaposing Toni Morrison's Beloved with the Sculpture of Alsion Saar; Ntozake Shange's If I Can Cook, You Know God Can with Jessica Harris' Cookbooks, or Paule Marshall's Praisesong for the Widow with Faith Ringold's Quilts, we will explore the ways in which women cultural workers in the latter half of the century offer their texts as a means of embodying ways of knowing and being that have withstood histories of dispersal. In addition, by considering works by women whose diasporic journeys have their origins in more recent Atlantic crossings, we will consider the nature of the conversation about legacies of “Africa” between US based African-Americans and a more recent migrant generation of “Afropolitans” such as Akosua Busia, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, Taye Selassie, NoViolet Bulawayo and Yaa Gyasi whose parents at least were born on the African continent though they have spent their lives elsewhere.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to: -Identify and discuss in writing African Survivals in the culture of the Americas -Discuss significant events to the African Diaspora and their importance -Consider the complexities that manifest in literary and other cultural representations of the forced migrations of slavery as well as the impact of newer, more voluntary migrations of Africans to the Americas -Understand the difference that gender makes in the cultural productions of Africans in the New World
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
AUTHOR: Sheila Walker TITLE: African Roots, American Cultures PUBLISHER: Rowman & Littlefield ISBN #: 978-0742501652 DATE/EDITION: 2001
AUTHOR: Paule Marshall TITLE: Praisesong for the Widow PUBLISHER: Penguin Books ISBN #: 978- 0452267114 DATE/EDITION: 1984
AUTHOR: Julie Dash TITLE: Daughters of the Dust: The Making of an African American Woman’s Film PUBLISHER: The New Press ISBN #: 978-1565840300 DATE/EDITION: 1992/1st edition
AUTHOR: Yvette Christianse TITLE: Unconfessed PUBLISHER: Other Press ISBN #: 978- 1590512814 DATE/EDITION: 2007 (Reprint)
AUTHOR: Toni Morrison Title: Beloved Publisher: Vintage ISBN #: 978-1400033416 DATE/EDITION: 2004 (Reprint)
AUTHOR: Akosua Busia Title: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird Publisher: Touchstone ISBN #: 978-0671014094 DATE/EDITION: 1997 (Paperback)
TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE
Depart Bremerhaven, Germany — September 9
A1—September 11 : Introduction to the course Film: Scattered Africa Readings: Sheila Walker Book Chapters Introduction & Chapter 1 “Are You Hip to the Jive? (Re)Writing/Righting the Pan-American Discourse
A2—September 13: Readings: Sheila Walker Part II (Chapters 4, 5, & 6)
Barcelona, Spain — September 15-18
A3—September 19: Video “The Other 1492” (YouTube- Villanova) Article: Eva Borreguero “The Moors are coming!”
A4—September 21: Reading: Akosua Busia , The Seasons of Beento Blackbird Parts I & II
No Class — September 23 Watch: Family Across the Sea
A5—September 24: Reading: The Seasons of Beento Blackbird, Parts III & IV
A6—September 26: Class Group Discussion Day
Tema, Ghana — September 27-30 Watch Traces of the Trade
No Classes — October 2
A7—October 3: Readings: Thomas DeWolf, Inheriting the Trade, Chapters 7 & 8, Hartman, Saidiya “Lose Your Mother” Prologue, Chapters 1 & 6
A8—October 5: Readings: Introduction Rijksmuseum Exhibit Catalog: Good Hope. South Africa and the Netherlands from 1600 Gabeba Baderoon: Regarding Muslims: From Slavery to Postapartheid Introduction, Chapters 3 & 4
Cape Town, South Africa — October 7-12 Possible Visit or On Board lecture with poet and cultural historian Gabeba Baderoon,
A9—October 13: Unconfessed, Yvette Christianse, Section I
A10—October 15: Unconfessed, Yvette Christianse, Section II
No Classes — October 16
A11—October 18: Regarding Muslims, Baderoon, G Chapter 1
Port Louis, Mauritius — October 19
A12—October 21: Group Class Discussion Day
No Class — October 22
A13—October 24 Regarding Muslims, Baderoon, G Chapter 2 , Walker Chapters 1 & 2
Cochin, India — October 25-30
No Classes — October 31 Watch: Daughters of the Dust
A14—November 2: Readings from Julie Dash, Daughters of the Dust: The Making of an African-American Woman’s Video Selection on Julie Dash and Vertamae Grosvenor from The Meaning of Food
Yangon, Myanmar — November 4-8
A15—November 9: Toni Morrison Beloved Part I
No class — November 11 Watch: Toni Morrison: Identifiable Qualities
A16—November 12: Toni Morrison Beloved Part II
Ho Chi Minh City - November 14-18
A17—November 19: Reading: Kreamer et al “Inscribing Meaning: Writing & Graphic Systems in African Art. Video: African Art, Women, History: The Luba People of Central Africa
No Class — November 21 Watching Dancing; New Worlds, New Forms
A18—November 22:
Walker Chapters 3 & 23
Shanghai, China — November 24-29
A19—November 30: Group Class Discussion Day
Kobe, Japan — December 2-6
A20—December 7: Video: The Language You Cry In
A21—December 9: Paule Marshall: Praisesong for the Widow Parts 1& 2
A22—December 11: Paule Marshall: Praisesong for the Widow Parts 3 & 4
Watch Wyatt T. Walker: The Roots of Music and The Music Tree:
A23—December 13: Lecture: A Musical Journey Through Paule Marshall: Praisesong for the Widow
A24—December 15: Group Class Discussion Day
Honolulu, Hawaii — December 16
A25—December 18; A Day Finals
San Diego, California — December 23
FIELD WORK
Semester at Sea field experiences allow for an unparalleled opportunity to compare, contrast, and synthesize the different cultures and countries encountered over the course of the voyage. In addition to the one field class, students will complete independent field assignments that span multiple countries.
Field Class attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of your field class. Field Classes constitute at least 20% of the contact hours for each course, and are developed and led by the instructor.
Field Class & Assignment
The Field Class for this course will take place on Thursday, 19 October, in Port Louis, Mauritius.
Class title: Mauritius Heritage Sites and Diwali Festival
In the morning we will visit the Natural History in Mahebourg, approximately 1 hour’s travel from port. This museum traces the history of Mauritius since it was founded by the Dutch, the arrival of the French and slaves, the sugar cane plantation, the battle of Vieux Grand Port between the British Empire and the French to conquer Mauritius, the abolition of slavery, and the arrival of the indentured laborers from India.
We will have lunch near the beach to visit the Le Morne World Heritage site commemorating the site of slave resistance and end the day taking part in preparations for Diwali, the Hindu festival of Lights which falls on the day we spend on the island.
This field trip being designed for this class, promises to be an intensive and experiential way of understanding both the Trans-Atlantic and the Indian Ocean slave trades and migrations. It will pull together the entwined histories of the British and Dutch empires that the students have seen evidence of in both Accra and Cape Town that have influenced also the history of this island. It will look forward to Cochin, India, where the indentured servants who arrived on this island and also in Cape Town originated. Finally, as it is a newly refurbished museum, it will also open up debates on the question of history, memory, and representation that runs throughout the texts we are reading.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the significance of the geography of the island to events of African, European, and Asian history. 2. Identify and discuss the African and Indian contributions arising out of the forced migrations of slavery and indentured service to the cultural life of Mauritius manifest in manifold cultural representations. 3. Consider the complexities of memorializing painful pasts.
Students will be asked to write a response paper, 3-5 pages in length,that ties an object or exhibit from the museum to any reading or film covered in class so far. The paper must include either an historical or theoretical text.
Independent Field Assignments Students should learn to look for signs of African influence on any of the cultural forms discussed in the class while visiting ports of call, for example: art, food, architecture, dance, clothing, music, etc.
Students will keep a journal or blog of these impressions, which will be due the class meeting immediately following the port and discussed in that class session. Journal/Blog entries should be more than 250 words but not exceed 500 words. Students may choose any 5 of the 10 ports on the itinerary, with the exception of the port at which the Fieldwork Experience will be completed.
METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING SCALE
The following Grading Scale is utilized for student evaluation. Pass/Fail is not an option for Semester at Sea coursework. Note that C-, D+ and D- grades are also not assigned on Semester at Sea in accordance with the grading system at Colorado State University (the SAS partner institution).
Pluses and minuses are awarded as follows on a 100% scale:
Excellent Good Satisfactory/Poor Failing 97-100%: A+ 87-89%: B+ 77-79%: C+ Less than 60%: F 93-96%: A 83-86%: B 70-76%: C 90-92%: A- 80-82%: B- 60-69%: D
ATTENDANCE/ENGAGEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Final Grades will be based on the following criteria: Attendance and Participation: 10% In Class Group Presentations: 20% Field Assignments: 25% Field Class Assignment and Participation: 20% Final Project: 25%
Attendance in all Semester at Sea classes, including the Field Class, is mandatory. Students must inform their instructors prior to any unanticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor’s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures.
LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS
Semester at Sea provides academic accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities, in accordance with ADA guidelines. Students who will need accommodations in a class, should contact ISE to discuss their individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner prior to implementation.
A memo from the student’s home institution verifying the accommodations received on their home campus is required before any accommodation is provided on the ship. Students must submit this verification of accommodations to [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than two months prior to the voyage.
STUDENT CONDUCT CODE
The foundation of a university is truth and knowledge, each of which relies in a fundamental manner upon academic integrity and is diminished significantly by academic misconduct. Academic integrity is conceptualized as doing and taking credit for one’s own work. A pervasive attitude promoting academic integrity enhances the sense of community and adds value to the educational process. All within the University are affected by the cooperative commitment to academic integrity. All Semester at Sea courses adhere to this Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code.
Depending on the nature of the assignment or exam, the faculty member may require a written declaration of the following honor pledge: “I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this exam/assignment.”
RESERVE BOOKS AND FILMS FOR THE LIBRARY BOOKS ARE LISTED IN PRIORITY ORDER:
AUTHOR: Baderoon, Gabeba Title: Regarding Muslims: From Slavery to Postapartheid Publisher: Wits University Press ISBN-10: 186814769X ISBN-13: 978-1868147694 DATE/EDITION 2014
AUTHOR: DeWolf, Thomas Title: Inheriting the Trade Publisher: Beacon Press ASIN: B007JLUGNO DATE/EDITION: 2009
AUTHOR: Hartman, Saidiya Title: Lose Your Mother Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; ISBN-10: 0374531153 ISBN-13: 978-0374531157 DATE/EDITION: 2008
AUTHOR: Yaa Gyasi Title: HomeGoing: a Novel Publisher: Knopf ISBN-10: 1101947136 ISBN-13: 978-1101947135 DATE/EDITION: 2016
AUTHOR: Adiche, Chimamanda Ngozi Title: Americanah Publisher: ISBN-10: 0307455920 ISBN-13: 978-0307455925 DATE/EDITION: 2014
AUTHOR: Gosselink, Martine et al Title: Good Hope. South Africa and the Netherlands from 1600 Publisher: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: Forthcoming February 2017
I OWN PERSONAL COPIES OF THOSE FILMS MARKED ###
Film: AUTHOR: Sheila Walker, Executive Director TITLE: Scattered Africa ### PUBLISHER: Afrodiaspora Inc ISBN #: DATE/EDITION:
AUTHOR: Teofilo Ruiz TITLE: “The Other 1492” (Villanova University Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar program) PUBLISHER: ISBN #: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNI5PwJ5reY DATE/EDITION: February 16, 2012
AUTHOR: Katrina Browne, director TITLE: Traces of the Trade ### PUBLISHER: PBS/POV ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 2008
Video: AUTHOR: Linda Fremman Producer Title: African Art, Women, History: The Luba People of Central Africa ### Publisher: L&S Video ISBN #: 1-882660-11-0 DATE/EDITION:
AUTHOR: Title: Dancing Episode 5; New Worlds, New Forms Publisher: http://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/447170 ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1993
AUTHOR: Director: Tim Carrier Title: Family Across the Sea ### Publisher: California Newsreel (Discontinued) 1991, ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1991 [Currently on VHS: Having it Converted through Rutgers Libraries]
AUTHOR: Producer/Directors: Alvaro Toepke and Angel Serrano Title: The Language You Cry In Publisher: California Newsreel ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1998
AUTHOR: Wyatt T. Walker Title: The Roots of Music and The Music Tree ### Publisher: Tony Brown’s Journal Shows # 828 & 829 ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: [Currently on VHS: Having it Converted through Rutgers Libraries]
AUTHOR Julie dash, Director Title: Daughters of the Dust ### Publisher: Movies Unlimited ISBN #: DATE/EDITION: 1991
ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS
AUTHOR: Kreamer, Christine Mullen et al ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: Inscribing Meaning: Writing & Graphic Systems in African Art JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: VOLUME: DATE: PAGES: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/afar.2007.40.3.78
AUTHOR: Eva Borreguero ARTICLE/CHAPTER TITLE: “The Moors Are Coming!: Encounters With Muslims in Contemporary Spain JOURNAL/BOOK TITLE: Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations DATE: Volume 17, Issue 4, 2006. Published Online 28 Nov 2006
PAGES: 417-432 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/09596410600967873