Meets with CMCL C626. Around the globe social and cultural groups
express resistance to domination through symbolic forms such as
ritual, song, narrative, literature and language. Equally common, the
nation-state utilizes the same resources from its indigenous cultures
to produce unity, loyalty and patriotism. This course deals with the
process that accomplishes these purposes. While these processes are
intimately related to the distribution and flow of power at any time,
they are especially crucial in periods of transition or political
upheaval.
After a few sessions devoted to discussion of theories of nationalism
and identity, the course will concentrate on studies that illustrate
the significance of symbolic forms as expressions of identity in
nationalism movements. These readings will concentrate on specific
examples in Europe and in Africa.
Students may choose any symbolic form in any movement of nationalism
as their subject and will write two related papers on this specific
process (one short and one long). The latter portion of the class
will be devoted to student presentation. Readings will include
theoretical works on nationalism and studies that focus on specific
symbolic forms and their effects on the political processes of a
particular time and place.