Lehrende: Timothy Douglas Weldon
Veranstaltungsart: Seminar
Orga-Einheit: 03-Ethnologie
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Semesterwochenstunden: 2
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch
Offizielle Kursbeschreibung: What is Activism? A protestor in the streets? A hacker in their basement? Perhaps the founder of an NGO or an “intentional community”? Or even dissident or revolutionary fighting an authoritarian regime? In this course we explore varieties of “rigorous” political action, and their contexts and participants, to build personal definitions of “activism” as it relates to our lives and the materials presented in this class. Part one of the course will explore several political contexts – from modern “democracies,” to authoritarian systems, to non-hierarchical communities – and the ways political power is distributed within these systems. We will isolate the power dynamics political inequities of these systems, and identify both mainstream and “non-systematized” political action within them. The second part of the course focuses on individuals and groups, and the extent they will go to have their voices heard. If one person standing on the street corner yelling doesn’t feel they are heard, when do they recruit more and take the streets? Yet, at what point then – if their wishes remain unheeded – do they start throwing rocks or carrying guns, even engaging in open revolt? Simply put, in parts I and II, we identify whose voice(s) are not heard in a (democracy, dictatorship, anarchist commune, etc.), why they are not heard, and what those people or groups can do about it. Part III of the course we discuss what people have (and are) doing about it! From pre-modern peasant revolts and the Paris commune; to the Zapatistas, Alter-Globalists, and recent color/spring/Occupy movements; and even to “NGO activism” across the globe; we will read concrete examples of political action that engages beyond “mainstream” politics and helps us – both as individuals and a class – come to our own understandings and definitions of “activism.”
Organisatorisches: Prüfungsvorleistung: Students will attend and take “field notes” at an “activist event.” They will hand the notes in with a one to three page analytical/reflective writing assignment. Prüfungsleistung: Building upon their pre-assessment assignment, course materials, and own experiences, students will write a paper presenting a critical definition of activism as they understand it. This paper will be reflexive and personal, but academic in its engagement with and citation of course materials and their experience “as an activist.” Due date: 31.03.2019
