Course Description
Multidisciplinary study of the history, culture, and politics of the Caribbean and its diaspora in the U.S. Topics include, but are not limited to, colonialism and slavery, revolution and empowerment, color and caste, gender and sexuality, Afro- Caribbean religions and music, national identity, and the tourist economy.
Athena Title
Multidiscipl Caribbean Studies
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
• Familiarize students with the basics of social science disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, and geography and the insights they can offer about the Caribbean. • Understand the history, demographics, and geography of the Caribbean. • Understand the Caribbean’s role in Atlantic history, Third World internationalism, and its precarious identity as the “Other America.” • Appreciate and enjoy the richness and complexity of Caribbean arts and culture, including its linguistic, musical, and religious innovations and idiosyncrasies. • Understand transnational migrations of Caribbean peoples to the U.S. • Understand the effects of tourism on local culture, the environment, and economic prospects. • Recognize the value of intersectional analysis as well as culturally distinct conceptions of race, gender, and sexuality. • Recognize the value of pluralistic dialogue. • Apply different theoretical paradigms and research methods to timely issues. • Improve critical thinking and analytic writing skills.
Topical Outline
• Identity: The Other America • Political Economy: Gold and Sugar • Empire: The American Mediterranean • Religion: Vodou, Santería, Rastafari • Music: From Rumba to Reggaetón • Literature and Language • Visual Arts • Case Studies: Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica • Tourism • Diasporas in the U.S.