2009 Courses

Courses for January Term 2009

EALC 314/RELB 314: Contemporary Tibet: Reframing the Crisis and Possibilities for Social Change [3]

David Germano, Associate Professor
Tashi Rabgey, Lecturer

The Dalai Lama, Himalayas, Buddhist Monasteries, Communist China, Minorities, Political Protest, State Violence & Autonomy -in other words, Contemporary Tibet. How should we understand contemporary Tibet in this period of dramatic socio-political crisis and equally dramatic cultural change? This course draws on cross-disciplinary scholarship, research, tools and approaches to develop critical perspectives on the shifting currents underway in the Tibetan region. Through a study of topics ranging from historical and legal status to governance issues such as economic development, language rights and land use to cultural issues such as literature, art, media, and religion, this course will explore the limits and possibilities of prevailing frameworks for interpreting the contemporary Tibetan situation. At the center of this course is the question of the role of social agency in Tibet's transition from tradition to modernity. Students will be guided through a critical reading of historical, legal, political, and religious texts, as well as biographies, novels, poetry, film, and other forms of media, as a means of exploring alternative modes of framing contemporary Tibet. Underlying this investigation is an inquiry into the potential of China's official discourses of citizenship, multiculturalism and minority regional autonomy in addressing collective social interests and needs. The course will involve the active participation of guest speakers and lecturers from Charlottesville, DC, China, and elsewhere whose work illuminates the topics under discussion. The course will also include a service based learning component, enabling students to work with Machik, a DC-based grassroots nonprofit organization, to design and develop collaborative community service projects with local Tibetan social entrepreneurs.
Rationale