Advanced Topics in Asian Languages and Cultures (390-0-20)

Topic

From the Ramayana to Rhoma Irama: India, Indonesia

Instructors

Daniel Joseph Majchrowicz
847/467-5829
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Office 4-423
Office Hours: varies by quarter, please contact instructor

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-425: Tues 5:00PM - 7:50PM

Overview of class

AY24 India and Indonesia share more than just a name. For thousands of years, these two regions—distant in geographical terms, but united by the winds and tides of the Indian Ocean—have been in close contact. Alongside trade, India and Indonesia have engaged in a continuous religious and cultural dialog that persists to the present day. This course takes an transoceanic approach to examine the past of these two regions. Our focus will range from tangible connections—from the rise of Hindu kingdoms in Indonesia and the exchange of Sufism-tinged Islam, to the influence of Bollywood film songs on the Indonesian music industry today. It will also engage shared conceptual issues—how, for example, have Indonesia, India, and Pakistan approached such vexing questions as selecting and creating a national language or unifying diverse populations? By the end of the course, students will have a strong historical understanding of the history of dialog and exchange between South and Southeast Asia, as well as a framework for thinking conceptually across borders. This course is an advanced seminar. Prerequisite: strong familiarity with one of the following: India, Indonesia, Pakistan. For more information, email dmaj@northwestern.edu.

Teaching Method

Seminar

Evaluation Method

discussion, final essay/project

Class Materials (Required)

none

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity