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In addition to the information listed below, detailed descriptions of each year’s course offerings may be found on the MAP Web site.
CONVERSATIONS OF THE WEST
Conversations of the West sections all share a recommended reading list of works from Greek, Roman, and Near Eastern antiquity. Typically, the classes have the following readings in common: the books of Genesis and Exodus from the Hebrew Scriptures, the Gospel According to Luke and Acts of the Apostles from the Christian New Testament, a Platonic dialogue and a Sophoclean or Euripidean tragedy, Vergil’s Aeneid, and Augustine’s Confessions. Additional readings for each class are selected by the individual instructors, who take their guidance from the recommended reading lists for the several tracks.
In addition to the traditional lecture/recitation format, selected sections of Conversations of the West are also offered in writing-intensive versions in conjunction with V40.0100, Writing the Essay. Consult the Directory of Classes for each semester’s schedule.
Conversations of the West: Antiquity and the Middle Ages
V55.0401 Given every semester. 4 points.
Continues with Dante’s Inferno, selections from Paradiso, and with other readings from the Middle Ages.
Conversations of the West: Antiquity and the Renaissance
V55.0402 Given every semester. 4 points.
Continues with Machiavelli’s Prince, a Shakespearean play or Milton’s Samson Agonistes, and with other readings from the Renaissance.
Conversations of the West: Antiquity and the Enlightenment
V55.0403 Given every semester. 4 points.
Continues with Pascal’s Pensées, Rousseau’s Confessions, and with other readings from the Enlightenment.
Conversations of the West: Antiquity and the 19th Century
V55.0404 Given every semester. 4 points.
Continues with Marx’s Communist Manifesto, selections from Darwin, Nietzsche’s Genealogy of Morality, or Freud’s Civilization and Its Discontents, and with other readings from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
WORLD CULTURES
World Cultures: The Ancient Near East and Egypt
V55.0501 Given every other year. 4 points.
Egypt and Mesopotamia, the two great non-Western civilizations of the ancient Near East, examined through ancient texts illustrating their historical development and culture. These are the civilizations where writing began; and each had a significant impact on Israel, Greece, Rome, and, eventually, the West. Egypt and Mesopotamia are compared and contrasted for developments such as urbanism and state formation, imperialism, religion, warfare, family life, trade and economy, kingship, the roles of men and women, literature, cosmology, and art. Students explore literature in the broadest sense, including documents that might otherwise simply be classed as historical.
World Cultures: Islamic Societies
V55.0502 Given every semester. 4 points.
Examines the common base and regional variations of Islamic societies. An “Islamic society” is here understood as one that shares, either as operative present or as historical past, that common religious base called Islam. For Muslims, Islam is not simply a set of beliefs or observances but also includes a history; its study is thus by nature historical, topical, and regional. The emphasis in the premodern period is first on the Quran and then on law, political theory, theology, and mysticism. For the more recent period, the stress is on the search for religious identity. Throughout, students are exposed to Islamic societies in the words of their own writings.
World Cultures: Africa
V55.0505 Given every year. 4 points.
Key concepts related to understanding sub-Saharan African cultures and societies, concentrating in particular on teaching students how to think critically and consult sources sensibly when studying non-Western cultures. Topics include problems in the interpretation of African literature, African history, gender issues, the question of whether African thought and values constitute a unique system of thinking, the impact of the slave trade and colonialism on African societies and culture, and the difficulties of and means for translating and interpreting the system of thought and behavior in an African traditional society into terms meaningful to Westerners. Among the readings are novels, current philosophical theory, and feminist interpretations of black and white accounts of African societies and the place of women in them. Issues are approached with the use of analyses from history, anthropology, sociology, literary theory, and philosophy.
World Cultures: The Chinese and Japanese Traditions
V55.0506 Given every other year. 4 points.
Essential aspects of Asian culture—Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism—studied through careful reading of major works of philosophy and literature. A roughly equal division between Chinese and Japanese works is meant to give a basic understanding of the broad similarities and the less obvious, but all-important, differences among the cultures of Confucian Asia. One reading is a Vietnamese adaptation of a Chinese legend. The last two readings, modern novellas from Japan and China, show the reaction of the traditional cultures to the Western invasions.
World Cultures: Japan— A Cultural History
V55.0507 Given every other year. 4 points.
A consideration of the prehistory to Japan’s modernist transformation through an analysis of key literary, religious, and artistic texts. Concentrates on the historical experiences that produced elements of a national culture before there was a nation and on the consciousness of being Japanese before there was a “Japan.” Examines how key cultural elements were used to make a modern nation-state.
World Cultures: The Caribbean
V55.0509 Given every other year. 4 points.
Examines the impact of the Caribbean’s long colonial history through race, class, culture, gender, and attends to the diversity of peoples who live on the islands. Known for its beauty, cultural vitality, and mix of peoples, cultures, and languages, the Caribbean is where today’s global economy began, some 500 years ago. Its sugar economy and history of slave labor and colonialism made it the site of massive transplantations of peoples and cultures from Africa for more than four centuries and from Asia since the mid-19th century, as well as a sizable influx of peoples from Europe all along. Readings examine the history of the region’s differing forms of colonialism; the present postcolonial economic and political structures; anthropological material on family and community life, religious beliefs and practices, gender roles and ideologies; and ways in which national, ethnic, and racial identities are expressed today.
World Cultures: Middle Eastern Societies
V55.0511 Given every other year. 4 points.
The popular American picture of the Middle East as a place of violence, veiled women, and oil wealth portrays none of the richness or complexity of most people’s lives in the region. How can we make sense of these seemingly unfamiliar societies and think critically about Western images of the unfamiliar? Questions examined in depth include the following: What variety of sources do people in the Middle East draw on to define their sense of who they are—as members of particular households, regions, nations, or religious communities? How do women and men construct their gender identity? In what ways are village, town, and city lives being transformed? Do people of the Middle East experience their region’s politics the way it is portrayed in the West? What are some of the causes of political repression, armed struggle, or terror? How did European colonialism reshape the lives of people in the region, and how do they today encounter the cultural and economic power of the United States and Europe? Readings are drawn from history, anthropology, political economy, and the contemporary literature of the region.
World Cultures: China
V55.0512 Given every year. 4 points.
Fundamental concepts and practices of Chinese society and culture, examined using primary sources in translation whenever possible. By studying the social, political, religious, ideological, ritual, economic, and cultural life of the Chinese, students gain a sense of the core values and issues of Chinese civilization and how these have affected and continue to have an impact on the way people think and live.
World Cultures: Ancient Israel
V55.0514 Given every semester. 4 points.
The culture of the ancient Israelite societies of biblical times, covering the period from about 1200 b.c.e. to the conquests of Alexander the Great, in the fourth century b.c.e. Topics include the achievements of these societies in the areas of law and social organization, prophetic movements, Israelite religion, and ancient Hebrew literature. The Hebrew Bible preserves much of the creativity of the ancient Israelites, but archaeological excavations in Israel and neighboring lands, as well as the discovery of ancient writings in Hebrew and related languages, have added greatly to our knowledge of life as it was lived in biblical times. The civilizations of Egypt and Syria-Mesopotamia also shed light on Israelite culture. Of particular interest is the early development of Israelite monotheism, which, in time, emerged as ancient Judaism, the mother religion of Christianity and Islam.
World Cultures: Latin America
V55.0515 Given every year. 4 points.
Explores the cultural, social, and political organization of indigenous people before the period of European colonization. Studies the dynamics of the colonial encounter, focusing on such themes as indigenous responses to European rule, the formation of “Indian” society, and the interaction of Europeans, Africans, and indigenous people. Considers postcolonial Latin America, focusing on themes such as political culture, competing ideologies of economics and social development, and the construction of collective identities based on region, race, ethnicity, gender, and class. Readings consist mostly of primary sources and allow students to hear diverse voices within Latin American society. Works by European conquerors, Inca and Aztec descendants in the colonial period, and African and creole slaves are studied. Course materials also include novels, short stories, films, photographs, and music.
World Cultures: India
V55.0516 Given every other year. 4 points.
Considers the paradoxes of modern India: ancient religious ideas coexisting with material progress, hierarchical caste society with parliamentary democracy, and urban shantytowns with palatial high-rises. Integrates research on India’s cultural values with social-scientific perspectives on their contemporary relevance. Examines problems such as protective discrimination for lower castes and cultural nationalism and shows how democracy involves difficult choices among competing, often opposed, ancient and modern cultural values.
World Cultures: Islam in Asia
V55.0523 Given every other year. 4 points.
Two-thirds of the world’s Muslims today live in Central, South, and Southeast Asia. How did Islamic traditions spread from the Middle East? What has been the nature of the ensuing dialogue between Muslims and adherents of existing traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, shamanism)? Topics include the nature of dialogue and conflict between the adherents of Islam and those of other religious traditions, the economic and social issues behind conflicts waged in the name of religion, the different and constantly evolving “Islams” that thrive in Asia, and the politics of Islam today, from Afghanistan eastward to the Philippines.
World Cultures: Russia Since 1917
V55.0528 Given every spring. 4 points.
Major periods, developments, and interpretative issues in Russian politics, history, and society, from the 1917 revolution to the present. Emphasis is on the Soviet experience, though the czarist past and post-Soviet developments are also considered. Special attention is given to the role of historical traditions, leadership, ideology, ramifying events, and socioeconomic factors.
World Cultures: Contemporary Latino Cultures
V55.0529 Given every year. 4 points.
Examines the growth and development of “Latino” as a distinct category of identity out of the highly diverse populations of Latin American background in the United States, paying particular attention to the social processes shaping its emergence. Provides a detailed examination of the processes of cultural creation behind the rising growth of transnational cultures and identities worldwide, and of the forces that are fueling their development. Begins by exploring the immigration of Latin American peoples to U.S. cities, then turns to three case studies of emerging Latino communities, and ends by examining contemporary issues involving Latinos in urban centers such as New York.
World Cultures: The African Diaspora
V55.0532 Given every other year. 4 points.
The dispersal of Africans to various parts of the world and over time, examining their experiences and those of their descendants. Regions of special interest include the Americas and the Islamic world, centering on questions of slavery and freedom while emphasizing the emergence of cultural forms and their relationship to both African and to non-African influences.
SOCIETIES AND THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
Note that the prerequisite for all Societies and the Social Sciences courses is completion of V55.04xx and V55.05xx and completion of or exemption from V40.0100, V40.0006, or V40.0009.
Societies and the Social Sciences: Topics in Interdisciplinary Perspective
V55.0600 Given occasionally. 4 points.
Examines social phenomena that cross the boundaries among the various social-scientific disciplines. Topics vary each term and may include, for example, human migration, religion, fascism, or colonialism. By considering the methodologies appropriate to the study of these topics, students learn to appreciate the characteristic approaches of the social sciences, their power to help us understand such phenomena, and their limitations.
EXPRESSIVE CULTURE
Note that the prerequisite for all Expressive Culture courses is completion of V55.04xx and V55.05xx and completion of or exemption from V40.0100, V40.0006, or V40.0009.
Expressive Culture: Words
V55.0710 Given every year. 4 points.
What is literature or the literary? Is there a literary language that works differently from ordinary language? What is literary style and form? What is the position of the writer or artist in relation to society, and what is the function of the reader? Is literature a mirror of the world that it describes, an attempt to influence a reader’s ideas or opinions, an expression of the identity of the writer, or none of these?
Expressive Culture: Images
V55.0720 Given every semester. 4 points.
What is the place of art in an image-saturated world? We begin by considering the power and taboo of images and the ways in which individuals and institutions that constitute “the art world” classify some of these images as works of art; turn to explore the visual and conceptual challenges presented by major works of sculpture, architecture, and painting; and conclude with a selection of problems raised by art today. Students develop the vocabulary to both appreciate and question the artistic “gestures” of society in various places and times.
Expressive Culture: Images—Painting and Sculpture in New York Field Study
V55.0721 Given every year. 4 points.
New York’s public art collections contain important examples of painting and sculpture from almost every phase of the past, as well as some of the world’s foremost works of contemporary art. Meeting once a week for an extended period, the course combines on-campus lectures with group excursions to the museums or other locations where these works are exhibited.
Expressive Culture: Images—Architecture in New York Field Study
V55.0722 Given every year. 4 points.
New York’s rich architectural heritage offers a unique opportunity for firsthand consideration of the concepts and styles of modern urban architecture, as well as its social, financial, and cultural contexts. Meeting once a week for an extended period, the course combines on-campus lectures with group excursions to prominent buildings. Consideration is given both to individual buildings as examples of 19th- and 20th-century architecture, as well as to phenomena such as the development of the skyscraper and the adaptation of older buildings to new uses.
Expressive Culture: Sounds
V55.0730 Given every semester. 4 points.
Our lives pulsate with patterns of sounds that we call music. We encounter these sounds in our homes, cars, stores, and exercise salons; they accompany us to the grocery store, the dentist’s office, and the movies. Yet we rarely think consciously about what they mean. Through a series of specific case studies we investigate the function and significance of music and the musician in human life. We raise basic questions about how music has been created, produced, perceived, and evaluated at diverse historical moments, in a variety of geographical locations, and among different cultural groups. Through aural explorations and discussion of how these vivid worlds “sound” in time and space, we assess the value of music in human experience.
Expressive Culture: Performance
V55.0740 Given occasionally. 4 points.
Examines “performance” both as a practice and as a theoretical tool with which to understand today’s world. The broad spectrum of live performance is explored by means of lectures, discussions, and field trips. Students look at theatre and dance, performance in everyday life, rituals, popular entertainments, and intercultural performance. On the theoretical level, students are introduced to “speech acts,” “restored behavior,” “ritual process,” and “play.” Students see a broad variety of performances, such as Native American powwow, Indian Hindu ritual drama, off-Broadway theatre and dance, African American gospel, street performers, and courtroom trials.
Expressive Culture: Film
V55.0750 Given every semester. 4 points.
Film is a medium that combines a number of arts. It lies at the intersection of art and technology and of art and mass culture, and at the boundaries of the national and the global. Film is also a medium that coincides with and contributes to the invention of modern life. By exploring the expressive and representational achievements of cinema in the context of modernity and mass culture, students learn the concepts to grasp the different ways in which films create meaning, achieve their emotional impact, and respond in complex ways to the historical contexts in which they are made.
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