Topic: Music, Dance, and Theatre in Global Context.
This course examines the relationship between art and culture by asking: How
is culture created and performed through the arts of music, dance, theater
and film?  While it is generally taken for granted that art expresses and
constitutes culture, we seek to explore exactly how it does so.  How do arts
from different cultures "perform" their respective cultures?  Why is art
especially effective in this role?  We will seek answers to these questions
through two primary strategies.  One will be to compare related genres
across cultures, such as comparing classical dance in the West (ballet) and
Indonesia (Balinese court dance), and examining popular music in Nigeria
(juju) and American (big-band jazz).  The second strategy will be to compare
art forms within a single cultural domain, for instance cinema, dance and
music in Indonesia, or theater, dance and music in Japan.  Examples will be
drawn from societies around the world including our own.

Students will have opportunities to observe and analyze performances, watch
classes and rehearsals, interview artists, and in some cases, participate in
performances.  In addition, a series of invited guest artists/teachers will
share their knowledge with the class.  Course requirements are regular
attendance, four short (2-3 pages) writing assignments, a midterm and a
final exam.