Fall 2021 Courses

Instructor: N. Fadeke Castor

CRN: 11643

Days, Time: WF 11:45 – 1:25 PM

Description:

Explores several of the possible historical, sociological, cultural, and political avenues of study in the broad interdisciplinary spectrum of African-American studies. Provides an introductory overview of the field and offers an opportunity to identify areas for more specific focus.

Instructor: Eric Jackson

CRN: 11031

Days, Time: MR 11:45 – 1:25 PM

Description:

Explores the various musical traditions of African Americans, with a specific focus on the United States. Examines the impact of African, European, and Native American traditions on African-American music as well as the role of music as an expression of African-American aesthetics, traditions, and life. Considers historical and contemporary forms of African-American music, with selected video presentations.

Instructor: TBD

CRN: 19041

Days, Time: TF 1:35 – 3:15 PM

Description:

Surveys Black popular culture from the mid-1950s to the present through music, movies, music videos, and other forms of multimedia, paying close attention to social commentary, political critique, economic inference, cultural formation, explications of religious and spiritual beliefs, and the like. Issues of representation, identity, values, and aesthetics are pondered and discussed. Seeks to cause students to rethink and reexamine the intent and impact of Black popular culture as a method and means of expression and communication.

Instructor: Matthew Lee

CRN: 18822

Days, Time: MR 11:45 – 1:25 PM

Description:

Examines racism, racial identity, and theories of social change and racial empowerment primarily
within the U.S. context. Highlights different ways in which racism and racial privilege have been experienced by different racial communities, more specifically at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels. Offers students an opportunity to learn ways to promote racial empowerment and equity. Using theory from primarily psychology and sociology, the course investigates the impact of social systems and institutions on individual-level and group experiences of racism. Investigates students’ own racial identities, a deeper understanding of institutional inequalities and intersectionality, and practical skills in leadership and community building that can promote positive social change and racial equality.

Instructor: Richard Wamai

CRN: 19044

Days, Time: TF 1:35pm-3:15pm

Description:

This course introduces global health in the context of an interdependent and globalized world focusing on four main areas of analysis: infrastructure of global health; diseases; populations; and terms, concepts and theories. While our focus is on lower-income countries, the course examines issues in a broader global context underscoring the interconnections between global health disparities and global health policy response. Case studies describing interventions to improve healthcare in resource-poor settings in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere are applied to help illuminate the actors, diseases, populations and principles and frameworks for the design of effective global health interventions.

Instructor: Kwamina Panford

CRN: 15761

Days, Time: MW 2:50pm-4:30pm

Description:

Examines the social dimensions of resource extraction. Focusing mainly on developing nations,
studies global issues, including developments in industrial nations, to assess their impact on resource extraction and living and working conditions in resource-rich regions. Uses case studies of key countries producing oil/gas, minerals, and forest/agricultural commodities to illustrate the past/current causes of resource mismanagement; their social consequences; and how public policies,
legislation, and financial and human resource management with industrialization can be used to avert or reduce the adverse effects of resource extraction, especially in poor countries. Major theories examined include the resource curse and alternative approaches to problems faced by resource-bearing developing nations. AFRS 2464 and INTL 2464 are cross-listed.

Instructor: Richard Wamai

CRN:19047

Days, Time: WF 11:45am-1:25pm

Description: This course examines the epidemiology and determinants of diseases and the public health practice among continental African peoples and African-derived populations in the Americas and elsewhere in the African Diaspora. Emphasis is on such epidemic diseases as malaria, yellow fever, tuberculosis, smallpox, HIV/AIDS, the current COVID-19 pandemic, and obesity and cancer. The course also aims to critically address the breadth of factors behind these pandemics, such as socio-economic, political, health system, behavioral, and genetic. A cross-cutting theme throughout the course is the entrenched health disparities in society.

Instructor: Kwamina Panford

CRN:

18377

Days, Time: MW 2:50pm-4:30pm

Description:

This course deals with key economic, political and social developments / challenges in modern Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To fully understand the nature of major issues, we examine historical/contemporary  causes such as colonialism,  the cold war and neo-liberal economic and political policies. This course has 2 key parts: First part provides extensive background and contexts to SSA. The second  part, is students using their research to identity, analyze and propose solutions to problems/challenges that interest them. The aim is to furnish an understanding of SSA that allows students to fully comprehend contemporary issues including how Africans are governing themselves and dealing with new  information/green technology,  rising joblessness especially among the  youth and  the global pandemic, Coronavirus, aka, Covid -19.

Instructor: Régine Michelle Jean-Charles

CRN: 18377

Days, Time: MW 2:50pm-4:30pm

Description:

This course invites students to explore feminist speculative fiction as a site for social justice advocacy. Students will read classic feminist and afrofuturist science fiction as they prepare their own original short stories for publication. Drawing heavily on the work of feminist afrofuturist Octavia Butler, students will engage imaginative narratives that allow them to think through solutions to the problems of our time. Students will explore the genre elements of short stories and speculative fiction, ultimately integrating these lessons into their own short stories. This is a writing and reading intensive class

Instructor: Thomas Havens

CRN: 16069

Days, Time: MWR 1:35pm – 2:40pm

Description:

East Asian Studies is a multidisciplinary introduction to the study of China, Korea, Japan, and adjacent regions from antiquity to the present, mainly through historical and literary texts.  Course is taught in English by staff from the History Department and is open to registered Northeastern University students. Asian Studies 1150 and History 1150 are identical; both satisfy university and departmental requirements.

Instructor: Alan West-Duran

CRN: 12148

Days, Time: MR 11:45am-1:25pm

Description: Examines the rich interconnections between literature and language and the culture that supports them. Discusses the relationship of language to literature and investigates how language and literatures are embedded in culture. Addresses several very broad and important questions, such as the relationship between language and culture; the relationship between language and thought; the definition of cultural relativism; and how ethical dilemmas are expressed in different cultures. Explores the relationship of esthetic and rhetorical traditions in given languages to the culture from which they sprang. In this context, examines the extremely interesting case of American Sign Language and how a gestural language sheds light on these issues.

Instructor: José Buscaglia, Daniel Cuenca

CRN: 13112, 17183, 18884

Days, Time: Online

Description:

Examines prizewinning Latin American films based on actual events, such as those that occurred during the Argentine military dictatorship of the 1970s, or works of fiction by well-known authors, such as Nobel Prize winner Garcia Marquez. These films ably depict the history and culture of these countries. Conducted in English and the films are in Spanish with English subtitles.

Instructor: Stacey Bourns

CRN: 10485

Days, Time: MR 11:45am-1:25pm

Description:

Offers a very broad introduction to French “culture,” by which is meant its principal “high” and “low” versions. An attempt is made to reproduce the knowledge base of a typical well-educated French man or woman. Highlights sports, politics, history, intellectual history, and the arts. Also addresses questions of cultural relativism. Students write a major paper on a subject chosen in conjunction with the professor.

Instructor: Luigia Maiellaro

CRN: 10609

Days, Time: MR 11:45am-1:25pm

Description:

Examines chronologically the main aspects of Italian culture, concentrating on the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the modern, post-unification period. Topics include art, philosophy, literature, architecture, film, and historical background. Other topics address significant personages in Italian culture, such as Dante, Boccaccio, Piero della Francesca, Leonardo da Vinci, Alberti, Pico della Mirandola, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli; the differences between northern and southern Italy; and the nature of Italy’s cultural heritage and its influence and status today. Conducted in English.

Instructor: Barbara Corbett

CRN: 10477

Days, Time: MWR 10:30am-11:35am

Description:

Examines chronologically the forces that have forged Spanish culture and have made Spain the nation it is today. Traces the development of Spain from the prehistoric caves of Altamira to the present. Observes past and present concerns such as divorce and abortion in a Catholic country, education, the role of women, linguistic diversity, separatism and terrorism, and the incorporation of Spain into the European Community. Incorporates history, sociology, anthropology, geography, economics, and politics. Conducted in English.

Instructor: Daniel Noemi Voionmaa

CRN: 18378

Days, Time: MWR 1:35pm-2:40pm

Description:

Instructor: Jennifer Cullen

CRN: 18379

Days, Time: TF 9:50am-11:30am

Description:

Provides an introduction to Japanese popular culture through critical analysis of mass media such as film, television, comics, and animation. Investigates various social and cultural issues, such as gender, family, and education. Films and videos supplement readings. Conducted in English.

Instructor: Daniel Noemi Voionmaa

CRN: 14567

Days, Time: MW 2:50pm-4:30pm

Description:

Focuses on film, literature, and new media. This course offers a panoramic view of the Latin American cultural production after 1989, attempting to characterize the variety of styles and trends. Relates the texts and movies to the socio, political, and economic issues of the moment, i.e., implementation of neoliberal democracies, globalization, neocolonialism, resistance, new social movements, etc. Also studies links between Latin America and the United States and between Latin America and Spain. Focuses on texts written by relatively young authors. Taught in Spanish.

• AFAM 1101 – Introduction to African American Studies
• CLTR 1120 – Introduction to Language, Literature & Culture

• AFAM 1101 – Introduction to African American Studies
• AFAM 1104 – African Americn Experience through Music
• AFAM 1113 –  Black Popular Culture
• AFRS 3900 – Gender & Black World Literature
• CLTR 1120 – Introduction to Language, Literature & Culture
• CLTR 1240 – Latin American Film
• CLTR 1501 – Introduction to French Culture
• CLTR 1503 – Introduction to Italian Culture
• CLTR 1504 – Cultural History of Spain
• CLTR 1505 – Latin American Culture
• CLTR 1700 – Introduction to Japanese Pop Culture
• CLTR 3715 – New Narratives: Latin America

• AFRS 1270 – Introduction to Global Health
• AFAM 2355 – Race Identity Social Change Empowerment
• AFRS 2464 – Natural Resources/Development
• AFRS 3424 – Epidemiology/African Diaspora
• AFRS 3460 – Contemporary Government & Politics in Africa

• CLTR 1240 – Latin American Film
• CLTR 1504 – Cultural History of Spain
• CLTR 1505 – Latin American Culture
• CLTR 3715 – New Narratives: Latin America

All courses offered excluding core courses.