ASCL 10.04 Introduction to Southeast Asia: Culture and Politics

This course offers an introduction to the cultural and political diversity of Southeast Asia. Broadly focused on the nation-states that have emerged since the end of World War II (Brunei, Burma [Myanmar], Cambodia, Indonesia, East Timor, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), the course explores the potentials and limits to a regional perspective. The course explores the various cultures of the region and thematically situates them within and outside the confines of the modern nation state – encouraging students to appreciate both plurality and cohesiveness of the SEA region.  The course challenges cultural essentialisms and ethnocentrisms towards the region – encouraging students to question the colonial cultural stereotypes that dominate mainstream knowledge of the region. In addition to exploring the extant forms of cultures (religion, language, ritual, literature) in Southeast Asia, this course will also explore how local identity in SEA is negotiated amidst sweeping cultural forces of globalization, imperialism, and modernization.

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages