HON 130-2 (WORLD CULTURES -- AFRICA) SYLLABUS

Fall 2003

INSTRUCTORS: Professor Parker English

315 Marcus White, Ext. 2-2824

englishp@ccsu.edu (e-mail username)

Office hours: 2:00-3:00 WF; 12:30-2 TR

Professor Andrew Moemeka

3170200 Vance, Ext. 2-2698

moemeka@ccsu.edu (e-mail username)

Office hours: 11-12 TR; 2-4:30 W

TEXTS:

- Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (purchase required)

- Ambiguous Adventure by Cheikh Hamidou Kane (purchase required)

- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (purchase required)

- Photocopies of essays by and about Leopold Senghor (supplied)

- Photocopies of essays by Zora Neale Hurston (supplied)

- Photocopies of essays about “performatives” (supplied)

COURSE GOALS: To familiarize you with some of the most important concepts, beliefs, and practices in African cultures. We will emphasize co-cultural variations which impact relationships, marriages, songs and dances, as well as child-rearing, local and state governments, and conflict resolution.

THE EVALUATION AND GRADING SYSTEM:

Assignment Date Due % of Final Grade

• Computer Conference on-going 15

• Papers

English (First paper: 4-5pp. ) TBA 12

(Second paper: 4-5pp.) TBA 12

Moemeka (First paper: 4-5pp.) TBA 12

(Second paper: 4-5pp.) TBA 12

• Debate/Rebuttal Presentations 10-24 November 25

• Position Paper (4-5 pp.) 15 December 12

____

100

Schedule

Meeting Topic

Sept. 8 Course introduction. Library introduction.

Moemeka

15 Africa (geography, short history and government)

22 Culture (fundamental principles in action)

29 Relationships (Interpersonal, Friendship and Age Grades)

English

Oct. 6 Traditional African philosophy; read Things Fall Apart.

13 Contemporary African philosophy; read Ambiguous Adventure.

20 Combining African philosophy with African American philosophy; read Their Eyes Were Watching God.

Moemeka

27 The Family:­ (a)­ Hierarchy and Responsibilities

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ (b)­ Mateship – courtship, marriage, children, names

Nov. 3 Socials­ (Songs, Dance, Dress, Births/Burials)

Debates and Rebuttals

10 First two four-person groups, with rebuttals.

17 Second two four-person groups, with rebuttals.

24 Third two four-person groups, with rebuttals.

English

Dec. 1 Combining Africana philosophy with Western philosophy; read "Performatives" by J.L. Austin.

Conclusion

11 Discussion and Course Evaluation