Fall 2019
Jacqueline-Bethel Mougoué
3 credits
MW 8-9:15am
Fulfills Humanities, Elementary
African popular culture—from literature to music to television to news media to movies—varies widely across the continent and intersects with U.S, popular culture in many respects, reflecting a globalized world and a legacy of colonialism. Students will learn about differences and similarities across the continent and become familiar with the African continent and its cultures, people, and languages. Coursework include media news reports that summarize contemporary news related to the course’s topics and three short essays. Students will also participate in a special African food history and culture workshop.
Because this is an interdisciplinary course, course materials will draw from diverse disciplines and sources including films, podcasts, documentaries, fashion magazines, street art, dance, photography, Instagram as well as scholarly texts. Course readings will draw from diverse disciplines and sources including Hip-Hop in Africa (2018) by Msia Clark, Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet (2016) by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Global Circulation of African Fashion (2002) by Leslie W. Rabine, and A History of African Popular Culture by Karin Barber (2018). The lecture schedule will include several “Scholar meets ACS students” sessions in which various guest speakers share their works on related course topics with students.