African 605: Methods in African Cultural Studies

This course provides an introduction to methods of conducting research on various forms and genres of African cultural production. It gives a brief overview of major themes and issues in African Cultural Studies (ACS). It then focuses on generating and evaluating research questions, before exploring the skills necessary for responding to them. Two primary skill areas are emphasized: context analysis (with attention to audiences, everyday life, social relations, power, etc.) and textual analysis (close reading of various forms, including everyday language, music, film, visual arts, and literature). In order to serve as an introduction to ACS at UW-Madison, this course includes several units guest-taught by faculty members in the program. This is an intensive reading course, so assessment is divided among class participation, analytical reading responses, and a final research proposal exercise.