Interdisciplinary AFST 352: Contemporary Africa: The Politics of Representation and Identity

TitleInterdisciplinary AFST 352: Contemporary Africa: The Politics of Representation and Identity
Faculty/College/UnitArts
StatusCompleted
Duration1 Year
Initiation04/01/2020
Completion04/30/2021
Project Summary

*Special Call: Interdisciplinary Team-Teaching Grant*

This project will redesign and revitalize AFST 352: Perspectives in African Studies: A Social Science Approach, a core component of the African Studies Minor program. AFST 352 has traditionally been taught in a lecture/discussion format led by one instructor with occasional guest lecturers. We are revising the course to embrace a truly interdisciplinary focus through team-teaching, updating the focus to reflect 21st-century realities by exploring topics such as the construction of gender and queer representation, integrating hands-on workshops in African music, linking theoretical readings to popular music and contemporary film from and about Africa, and bringing together instructional expertise in African culture, philosophy, musicology and film. This team-taught version of AFST 352 will provide an enriched and immersive experience for students, promote collaboration amongst instructors, and provide a template for a more dynamic ongoing version of the course.

Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2020/2021
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorSuzanne James
Year 1: Funded Amount20,000
Year 1: Team Members

Suzanne James, Lecturer, English and African Studies, Faculty of Arts
Kofi Gbolonyo, Sessional Lecturer / Graduate Student, Music and African Studies, Faculty of Arts
Deena Dinat, Sessional Lecturer, English and African Studies, Faculty of Arts

Project Report2020-ITTG-Final-Report-James-WEB.pdf