H-95-033. Introduction to modernity and Indigenous Cultures
(3-0-8) Semestre y carreras en que se ofrece: 7-8 LRI, 7-8 LCC
Equivalencia: No tiene
That the students
develop an awareness of the contradictions between modern european culture and
indigenous or aboriginal cultures.
That students are
able to identify the origins of contemporary world views (cosmovision) and
forms of social organization; and the origins of the world views and forms of
social organization of aboriginal societies.
That students gain
an understanding of the methodological implications of the existence of
different world views and perspectives.
That students are
able to identify and analyze the effects of international trade, trading
agreements and the dominant capitalist economy on indigenous people and
communities.
That students
investigate and study examples indigenous peoples struggles in America, Asia
and Africa.
Theme 1. The formation of
modern society
Each student should understand the socio-historical process through
which modern industrial society was formed.
This fenomenon will be analyzed from social, economic, anthropological,
cultural and crítical perspectives.Theory of social relations will be used to
understand how societies are constructed through the intergeneration of
individuals.
The process of development, seen as the transition from traditional to
modern society, will be studied, and students will be encouraged to reflect on
how this process has taken place in Latin America.
Students will acquire the ability to critically analize the modern state
and understand why this is the dominant form of human society.
Theme 2. Indigenous cultures
This theme will be approached from an ethnographical perspective, for this
reason students will be required to study a series theoretical texts which will
supply them with the tools they will need for the study of other cultures.
Students will be expected to understand the use of oral history, the
transmission of knowledge in indigenous cultures.
An first approach will be made to different world views or cosmovsions,
students will understand the use meaning of cultural perception and how these
different forms of seeing the world are expressed in language and life style.
Studied will be made of the main cultural charatersitics of indigenous
peoples from different parts of the world.
Finally students will be expected to indentify the links between these
different cultures.
Theme 3.Contradictions and conflict
Students will be expected to understand the role of indigenous peoples
in the nation building process.
The value of natural resources to indigenous people and their value in
the market place will be analyzed.
Students will study the importance of the survival of indigenous peoples
in terms of the contribution that they make to the world and their nations.
Their survival will be studied in realtion to international agreements such as
the proposed MAI, the NAFTA and the WTO.
Theme 1. The formation of
modern society
The market and the global economy
Family, individual, society and community
The construction of social norms
Modern society as culturally european
Development and underdevelopment
Theme 2. Indigenous cultures
Tools for studying indigenous cultures
Oral history, myths and literature
Cosmovisions and world views
Mexico and mesoamerica
North America
Asia, Africa and Australia
Common threads between indigenous cultures
Theme 3.Contradictions and conflict
Development and nation building
Natural resources and the economy
The survival of indigenous cultures
International trading agreements
The course will begin by studying a series of theoretical tecniques for studying other cultures. Students will
need to be open minded and willing to use refer to unconventional texts for
reference such as literature and poetry.
A text will be set in each class for discussion during the next.
Students will be expected to take notes of their readings and may be asked to
present what they have read. Each text will be used as the starting point for a
class discussion.
Approximately 40% of class time will be taken up by lecture or reading
the the teacher.
Approximately 10% of class time will be used for students to present
their reading notes.
Approximately 50% of class time will be dedicated to discussion.
With help from the teacher, students will be expected to research one
indigenous group and the conflicts they face in terms of land, territory,
social. These studies will form part of students evaluation and will form the
base for discussion material during class.
ESTIMATED TIME FOR EACH THEME:
Theme 1. Five weeks (including evaluation).
Theme 2. Seven weeks (including evaluation)
Theme 3 Six weeks weeks
(including evaluation)
EVALUATION:
Participation in class discussions: 15%
Research project (two partial evaluations) 35%
Class presentation (partial evaluation): 15%
Final evaluation: 35%
SUPPORTING BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Adorno, Teodoro y Horkhiemer, Max
Dilalectica del iluminismo, Version
castillana H.A. Murena, Bueno Aires, Editorial Sudamericana, 1969
Augé, Marc
Los no lugares, Gedisa, España,
1996
Bagú, Sergio
Tempo, Realidad y
Conocimiento, SXX1, Mexico 1972
Batolomé, Miguel Alberto
Gente de costumbre y gente de
razón, Mexico Siglo XXI, 1997
Berman, Marshal
Todo lo sólido se desvanece en
el aire, Mexico, Siglo XXI, 1997
Bernal, Martin
Black Athena, Great Britain, Vintage, 1991
Bordieu, Pierre
The Logic of Practice, California, Stanford University Press, 1990
Brody, Hugh
The other side of Eden, Faber and Faber, Great Britain, 2001
Echeverrria, Bolivar
Las ilusiones de la modernidad, Mexico UNAM/El
Equilibrista, 1995
Haraway, Donna J.
Cienca, Cyborgs y mujeres, la
reinvenciión de la naturaleza, España, Cátedra, 1995
Heller, Agnes,
Can modernity survive?, Great Britain, Polity press, 1990
Khun, Tomas,
Scientists and their world views, in Truett Andersen, Walter (ed) The Truth about the Truth
New York,
Putnams’s Sons, 1995
Lenkersdorf, Carlos,
Los hombres verdaderos, Mexico Siglo XXI,
1996
Cosmovisiones, Mexico, CIICH,
UNAM, 1998
Lopez Austin, Alfredo,
Tamoanchan y tlalocan, Mexico, FCE 1995
Norberg-Hodge, Helena
Ancient Futures, Blackwell,Great Britain, 1990
Rosaldo, Renato
Culture and Truth, the remaking of social analysis, Great Britain, Routledge, 1993
Said, Edward
Orientalismo, London, Penguin, 1995
Winch, Peter,
Comprender una sociedad primitiva, España, Paidos, 1994
Whorf, Benjamin
Language, thought
and reality, Chaso (Cambridge) Technology press of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 1956
TEACHER BACKGROUND:
With a post
graduate degree in sociology, anthropology or similar.