Course Details in 2023/24 Session

Module Title	LC Introduction to African Cultures
School	History and Cultures
Department	African Studies & Anthropology
Module Code	09 38698
Module Lead	Dr Juliet Gilbert
Level	Certificate Level
Credits	10
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-5 hours Seminar-5 hours Guided independent study-90 hours Total: 100 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module introduces students to the study and appreciation of African cultures. It emphasises diversity, complexity, and dynamism of cultures across the continent, and challenges the often held and overly simplistic assumption that Africa is a homogenous cultural world. By studying the content and form of cultural genres such as (but not limited to) oral literature, performance, masquerade, visual art, photography, and film, students will gain important insights into a range of African cultures. With a focus on how cultural forms are continually adapted to changing tastes, aesthetics, and politics by Africans on the continent and in diaspora, and how guardianship and representations of African culture underpin decolonial debates, the module equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to intelligibly discuss issues pertinent to the study of contemporary Africa.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate knowledge of African visual arts and performative arts (including music) and African literature in a range of cultures across the continent in the twentieth century, and assess problems of classification, aesthetics, function and audience; Analyse how cultural forms can be vehicles for imparting community ideals and values and for engendering social action; Evaluate the dynamism and complexity of African cultures by explaining how specific cultural products engage with local and global processes over time;
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 1 x 1500 word written assignment (100%) Reassessment: Resubmission of failed component(s)
Other	This module replaces (09 24292)
Reading List