Admission requirements
None
Description
This course provides an introduction to the contemporary cultures of South and Southeast Asia—the cultural practices as well as their study. The course is arranged as a series of connected themes which are discussed from South and Southeast Asian perspectives as well as comparatively.
We begin by unpacking the major categories in terms of which the contemporary cultures of South and Southeast Asia are commonly analyzed, such as the “modernity” versus “tradition” paradigm, the idea of a “South Asian” versus a “Southeast Asian” region, and the notion of “culture” itself. The series of classes that follows is devoted to ordinary, everyday culture, “high culture”, questions of diversity and diaspora, heritage, and other themes. We conclude with an overview of the main questions addressed in the course: matters cultural that are relevant to nations, communities and individuals in South and Southeast Asia.
Course objectives
knowledge of and insight into important cultural domains in contemporary South and Southeast Asia
knowledge of and insights into actual debates about culture in general and with regard to South and Southeast Asia
training of analytical skills with regard to questions of culture by means of critical analysis of scholarly studies on culture in South and Southeast Asia
Timetable
Mode of instruction
- Lecture
Attendance is not obligatory for lectures. The conveners do not need to be informed in case of missed classes. Information and knowledge provided in the lectures greatly contribute to the subsequent courses of the programme and their contents will be part of the examination. In order to pass the course, students are strongly advised to attend all sessions.
Course Load
Total course load for the course: 140 hours.
Hours spent on attending lectures and seminars: 24 hours.
Approximate time for studying the compulsory literature: 78 hours
Approximate time for writing the assignments: 36 hours
Examination: 2 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
The course is assessed in two ways:
Written examination
Two assignments
Weighing
- A written examination consisting of essay-type questions (60% of the overall mark).
- Two assignments about the course readings, to be submitted at determined points during the lecture course (40% of the overall mark).
Each assignment will be a detailed answer to questions relating to texts on the reading list.
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an an overall mark of “5.50” (=6) or higher.
Resit
An exam resit is possible only for element (1).
The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Exam review
If a student requests in writing a review of his/her examination answer script within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard is used for:
table of contents of the course
course materials
making available of assignments
submission of assignments by students
announcements
Blackboard serves as the primary means of communication about the course between instructors and students outside class meetings. Registration for the course on Blackboard is essential.
Reading list
A reading list to be announced later. The readings must be studied prior to the class in question.
Registration
Students are requested to register through uSis, the registration system of Leiden University for this course. General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Studeren à la carte.
Contractonderwijs.