Class Materials
1. Native Land
Acknowledgement
Acknowledgement
Lenni Lenape Territorial Acknowledgment
We acknowledge that the land on which we live and work are the ancestral lands of the Lenni Lenape people, whose presence and resilience in Pennsylvania continues to this day. I ask you to join me in acknowledging the Lenni Lenape community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. We honor the original caretakers of this land and recognize the history of land theft, violence, erasure, and oppression that has brought Villanova University and ourselves here to Lenni Lenape territory.
Video (4 min)
2. Globalization and Neoliberalism
Video (8 min) Globalization and Neoliberalism
Discussion questions--
Why is it important to not just see neoliberalism as an economic doctrine, set of institutional commitments, or even as simply an excess of capitalism (capitalism on steroids), but rather as a “governing rationality through which everything is economized”? Why is thinking of neoliberalism this way significant and worrying?
How can we make sense of this idea of “human capital”? What does it mean to capitalize human beings and what is required of those human beings who become capitalized? What other images/ontologies of human beings get deconstructed or destroyed when humans become capitalized?
Why does neoliberalism pose such a threat to democracy and to democratic values? What happens to political life under neoliberalism?
How has the liberal notion of homo economicus changed over the past 200 years? What are the differences, in particular, between people who “truck, barter and exchange” and modern individuals who try to “enhance their market value”?
How has neoliberalism as a governing rationality fundamentally transformed social, cultural and individual life, especially the way we understand and mediate our relationships with one another?
3. Getting to Globalization 2022
Out of Africa
Stone Age to Development of Agriculture--10,000 BC
4. Development of Agriculture
99% of our time on Earth as Foragers!
Shelters, Fire, Wheel, Stone tools
Metal tools
Video--Development of Civilization
2.5 min
Video--From Foragers to Farmers (5 min)
1% as Farmers
City States
Writing
Empires
Nation States
Indigenous peoples
Mazlov's Hierarchy of Needs
Development of the Nation State
Empires existed before nation-states
Video "Rise of the Nation State" (5 min)
NYTimes Video "How Nations Make Up National Identities (5 min)
Video--Noam Chomsky, The Nation State (4 min)
Group Work: Compile a list of stories, symbols and icons that construct national identity today. Where do you find these representations of nationhood? Mass Media? Education? Social Media? etc.
Group 1--Symbols
Group 2--Stories, myths
Group 3--Images
Group 4--Rituals
5. Marxism
Video--Basics of Marxism (9 min)
Marxist goal: "To each according to their need, from each according to their ability."
Marxism-- (Marx 1818-1883)
Communist Manifesto, 1847
Chief contradiction of capitalism - Even though the vast majority of people/workers produce wealth, ownership and most profit is in private hands.
Means of production (Base): Ways people support themselves and their civilizations: Foraging, agriculture, factories, finance companies, service industry. Determines the "superstructure" ideas of status quo.
Superstructure - world of language, ideas and attitudes, religion, literature, law, art. Much of this culture and ideology reflects the ideas of the elites and those with power. Marx didn't explain much about the super structure--Others will.
False consciousness--exploitation seems like freedom
Marxist idea of work: Central human endeavor, outlet for self expression; build community, self esteem, dignity, respect, enable creativity; for these traits to occur, worker should have control over worklife.
Video--Marx on Alienation (3 min)
Much if not most work today is alienating--What has your experience with work been like to date?
Ideology -- (hegemony, status quo) a set of ideas and attitudes which seem like common sense but which are really favorable to the ruling capitalist class and other elites--owners of means of production.
Materialist Conception of History: As means of production evolves, so does the ideology of a culture, reflecting the ideas that benefit the rulers. Progress comes from evolution of means of production, not great men/women, not ideas or ideals. Economic history is a progressive march toward achieving the greater good for all. Marxism is a utopian ideology. Democratic advances are due to elite leaders with support from masses of people involved. Democratic push is always there, but setbacks include war, corruption, inequality, greed, etc.
Primitive communism (foragers & pastoralists) Pre-history to today; Domestic production; great equality among band and tribe members
Slavery
Feudalism--Based on agriculture; horticulturalists -- 8 C - 12C; Tributary Production, i.e., peasants beholden to aristocrats;--Growth of city states, empires, nation states
Monarchy--horticulturalists 15C-17C; Tributary taxation; growth of administrative state
Bourgeois capitalism-- 17 C- 19C, most people are horticulturalists and agriculturalists; Monarchies overthrown; some Individuals become owners and amass great wealth (Rockefeller) ;Consolidation of nation state; colonialism
Monopoly capitalism--growth of corporations--Big Agra, Big Pharma, 19-20 C
Global neoliberal capitalism (Multinational corporations are more powerful than many nations) 20C + Monopolies bigger than ever. Examples? Inequality is rampant. IMF, World Bank, WTO
Socialism 20C+--Democratic pushback; Socialism in European countries (Expansive social safety net), in China, market socialism with state planning
Communism -- Not yet :), No inequality of income, class, race or gender, etc. "From each according to their abilities; to each according to their needs."
5. Neoliberalism and Racial Capitalism
Video Mary Shadd Cary - 6 min
Video Mary Ann Shadd - 3 min
6. Zapatismo! Using social media to resist neoliberalism
7.Chile
US Invasions of Latin America --since 1890
Video--CIA Overthrow of Allende (10 min)
Video: A Rapist in your Path (2 min)
Video: A Rapist in your Path: Around the World (2 min)
"History is ours, and it is made by the people," Salvador Allende
Allende's granddaughter is now Minister of Defense in Chile
Christ the Redeemer
Rio de Janeiro
Shanghai
11. Economic Systems
Where do the following countries belong in the chart?
European Union countries, Mexico, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Hungary, Canada
Economic Iceberg--Invisible/informal economy
Characteristics of Fascism
Questions about Fascism
Which characteristics have you seen in the US recently?
Which of the 14 characteristics would be most likely to persuade citizens to follow and elect a fascist leader?
Which of the 14 characteristics would be the least likely to persuade citizens to follow and elect a fascist leader?
What are some ways to stop fascistic tendencies in a nation?
Group Work:
Discuss food and US national identity;
What does does the food we eat reveal about our nation? Consider implications of predominance of meat; holiday meals, fast food
2. Food marketing and advertising trends
What are we being interpellated to eat in ads? What are the latest food trends, popular weight loss diets, supplements? How are they connected to the Globalization of food marketing? Which are popular with college students?
3. Binary gender differences and food--constructing male and female through food
how are binary gender differences reinforced through food and body type? How is heteronormativity constructed through food?
4. What about "dinner dates"? Do they still exist? If so, who initiates, who pays, where do they take place? what is eaten by whom? What cultural expectations are changing or remaining.
5. Beverages as a marker of gender and class; what are typical male/female drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic? what are considered fancy, prestigious drinks, alcoholic/non-alcoholic?
Were we meant to be vegetarians? Genesis 1:29-30
"Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you shall it be for meat.
And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so."
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But then, Genesis 9: 3-4 (after the flood)
"The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and of all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every living thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood."
Video--"Essential Migrant Farm Workers Risk Infection and Deportation" 8 min
Video--Factory Farming and Animal Cruelty--Good one! 3.5 min
Foods originating in Mexico and Latin America, around the world
Video--Monsanto: The True Cost of Food (13 min)
13. Africa
Video--African Cities (18 min)
Which one would you like to visit? and why?Wangechi Mutu--Kenyan artist of women and the earth
Storm King Mutu Exhibit and video
What indigenous traits do you see in her work?
Songs:
Lagos, Nigeria
Soweto, South Africa
Luanda, Angola
Africa provides a comprehensive and contigious time line of human development going back at least 7 million years. Africa, which developed the world's oldest human civilization, gave humanity the use of fire a million and half to two million years ago. It is the home of the first tools, astronomy, jewelry, fishing, mathematics, crops, art, use of pigments, cutting and other pointed instruments and animal domestication. In short Africa gave the world human civilization.
Map of Africa --look for country, then click on it for enlargement
Afrofuturism and looking toward accomplishments of Ancient Africans
What were the main ideas of the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment, a philosophical movement that dominated in Europe during the 18th century, was centered around the idea that reason is the primary source of authority and legitimacy, and advocated such ideals as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separation of church and state.
Political and individual liberty, human rights, faith in scientific reason, secularism, and the freedom of public debate.
Modernity--1850's-1945 (Application of ideas from Enlightenment)
Represents "March of Western Progress": Feudalism, Renaisance, Enlightenment, Modernity, Post-modernity
Related to Enlightenment Ideals; Criticized as an aspect of neo-colonialism.
Modernity--
1. Industrialization and urbanization.
2. Democracy.
3. Birth of the citizen; Birth of Nation State
4. Capitalism--Free market
5. The search for absolute knowledge in science, technology, society and politics.
6.The idea that gaining knowledge of the true self was the only foundation for all other knowledge.
Development of democracy, capitalism, colonialism, and science-based rationalism.
The Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the American and French Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution and World War I, etc.
Publicly Owned Entities in the US
Nature of federal government jobs
Directors of federal agencies are political (presidential) appointees
Lower administrators and staff are career civil servants--sometimes presents a conflict between staff and Directors
College grads from 1910-2019--compiled by National Center for Educational Statistics.gov
12. Neoliberalism and Gender
Video -- Gender Trouble (9 min)
Video -- Media Studies: Judith Butler and Performativity (7 min)
Video -- The Male Gaze, Laura Mulvay (6 min)
Check out Chart on Gender Neutral Names in US. Would you give a child one of these names? Why or Why not?
Video--Video--Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity 6-8 min
Group Work: If you were introducing Villanova to someone from a vastly different culture, what would you tell them if they wanted to follow traditional binary gender roles/rules at Villanova?
Discuss in Groups/Pairs and Report to the Class:
Consider these areas of Villanova life: dress, music, food, drink, dance, sports, jewelry, space/locations, behaviors, work, social life, communication, body decoration, makeup, public displays of affection, etc!
In what ways are we a gender binary culture in that traditional gender presentation prevails?
In what ways are we an androgynous culture in that traditional gender presentation doesn't matter?
Are there areas or spheres at Villanova where those presenting as women are not supposed to go? What happens if they go there? Risks?
Are there any elements of an “honor” or “shame” or “embarrassment” culture associated with traditional gender roles/presentation (male or female) at Villanova that a newcomer should be aware of? What about in your own social circle?
Imagine: What would you do/be/feel as a member of another binary (or non-binary) gender? ?
13. Native American and Indigenous Land
Find the Native American tribes who lived in your hometown before you did
Where did US States Get Their Names? (22 min)
Video--Native land Acknowledgement
Article and Video (3 min) "Most Effective Conservation is Indigenous Land Management"
Foucault's idea of Modern Indigenous Subjectivity
Native American Tribes and Territory Before Columbus
14. Colonialism, Postcolonialism and Decolonialism
US Invasions of Latin America --since 1890 (left out 1836 invasion of MX)
Video--History of Puerto Rico--Voting
Puerto Rico
Video--Puerto Rican journalist on LAMA and privatization of electric grid (10 min)
Laws and Restrictions Affecting PR
"Citizens," but can't vote in US Elections
Jones Act 1920-- transportation of goods between two U.S. ports must be carried out by a vessel that was built in the U.S. and operated primarily by Americans. This law doesn’t single out Puerto Rico — it applies to all U.S. ports, the only exception being the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Restrictions on Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc.
Unelected Fiscal Control Board and Governor sold public electric grid to Lama, private company
Video -- Decoloniality (4 min)
Characteristics of Postcolonial Theory and Perspectives
Postcolonial theory focuses on pointing out and overturning stereotypes and misconceptions about ethnicities and nations that were colonized in the past.
These stereotypes may be in the minds of both the colonized and colonizers.
Postcolonial criticism can include all the other critical perspectives we've studied this semester: feminist, Marxist, queer, ecocritical and postmodern.
Here are some common strategies used by postcolonial writers and critics:
Anti-essentialist strategies and themes to combat the idea of static, non-evolving cultures or subjects.
Intra-cultural conflicts
Cultural change and transformation
Complicating the notion of native identity--conflicts; evolution of characters, events; unexpected, non-stereotypical character traits
Themes of Migration, diaspora, border crossings
Conflicting gender issues, past and present
Focus on indigenous or pre-colonial past; reinterpreting it; reclaiming it
Themes of resistance in terms of gender, race, class, nationality
Attempt to reconstitute identities free of colonial past or influence; or stressing "hybridity" of personal and cultural identity
Reclaiming and revaluing myths, beliefs, folklore, religions and traditions of the past.
Emphasis on a very specific local experience in contrast to cultural universals
Attention to how colonization damaged or ruined the natural bounty of a nation or ethnic area.
Terms in Postcolonial Criticism
Hegemony--the dominance of one social group or class over another
Military imperialism--conquest by military means
Cultural imperialism--conquest by "soft power," i.e., media saturation or by saturation by commoditized cultural artifacts
Othering--dehumanization of peoples
Colonial subject--a person with a "colonized" consciousness
Subaltern--those dominated by a colonial power mentally or physically
Mimicry--imitation of speech and lifestyle of dominant culture by subaltern subjects
Hybridity--mixing of cultures; reduces cultural hegemony
Diaspora--the migration of ethnic or national groups
15. Neoliberalism and Gender
Video -- Gender Trouble (9 min)
Video -- Media Studies: Judith Butler and Performativity (7 min)
Video -- The Male Gaze, Laura Mulvay (6 min)
Imagine: What would you do/be/feel as a member of another binary (or non-binary) gender? ?
16. Global Neoliberalism and Migration
Neoliberal economic structural changes leading to migration, both internal and transnational
Free Trade Agreements leading to subsistence farmers and others priced out of domestic markets
Multinational corporate takeover of national industries, i.e. oil, fossil gas, mining, lumber. Profits leave country and/or go to national elites
Multinational corporations working with national governments and elites to buy/sell a nation's natural resources without regard to national development
Outsourcing manufacturing to lowest bidder without regard for worker health and safety, i.e. fast fashion; just in time supply chains
Need to migrate for jobs (usually low wage)
Privatization of basic services (water, electricity, healthcare) making them more expensive and but more profitable for owners
Influx of public money into the for profit banking industry
Deregulation of labor rights and safety to cut costs
Demand for cheap, surplus labor to compete on world market
Corporate need for flexible labor
Suppression of labor unions and decline in wages and benefits on the job
UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
Chart--Where have Ukrainian Refugees Gone?
17. Religion
Islam -- 5 Pillars
The Shahadah (Declaration of faith) - The shahadah means there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
Prayer (Salah) - Praying five times a day, kneeling towards Mecca.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm) - Islamic Fasting is not eating or drinking beverages when the sun is out, only when the moon is out.
Charity or alms-giving (Zakat) - Each year a Muslim should give money to charity (Usually 2.5% of their savings). If a person does not have much money, they can do other things instead.
A pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) - Muslims should go to Mecca to worship Allah on a pilgrimage. They should do this at least once in their lives. A person does not have to make this pilgrimage if they cannot afford to, or they are physically unable to (Though they can get someone else to go for them).
Prime or Early Morning Prayer (First Hour = approximately 6 a.m.)
Terce or Mid-Morning Prayer (Third Hour = approximately 9 a.m.)
Sext or Midday Prayer (Sixth Hour = approximately 12 noon)
None or Mid-Afternoon Prayer (Ninth Hour = approximately 3 p.m.)
Video--TedTalk, 5 Major Religions (11 min)
Video--The last matriarchal society in Europe (6.5 Min)
14. Race & Ethnicity
Video--Systemic Racism--6 min
Video SNL & Eddie Murphy: White Like Me (5 min)
US Census and Racial Categories--
Reasons for Collecting Information on Race--Information on race is required for many Federal programs and is critical in making policy decisions, particularly for civil rights. States use these data to meet legislative redistricting principles. Race data also are used to promote equal employment opportunities and to assess racial disparities in health and environmental risks.
Social Construction of Race and Cultural/Critical Theory:
Saussure --race acquires meaning in relation to opposites and other gender identities; no actual referrent
Race is a systemic structure
Linguists have shown the equality of languages and dialects; a "standard language" is a dialect with an Army and a Navy
Althusser -- Race is part of ISA and RSA
Marx -- Race depends on depriving workers of agency, especially black workers. Capitalist ideology splits workers based on race and thus weakens their movement.
Foucault -- Notions of race have been built over time through discursive histories dating from 1492--science, economics, legal system, media, etc.-- Much is from colonial/Enlightenment principles
Butler -- Race is performed, not an essential identity
Video Trailer, Judas and the Black Messiah
(Critical Race Theory--See Below)
Video, NYTimes, The Black Panthers by Stanley Nelson and Laurens Grant (7 min)
NBC News Video, The Black Panthers (3.5 min)
The Black Panther Party's Ten Point Program, "What We Want Now!"
May 15, 1967, The Black Panther newspaper.[56]
We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our Black Community.
We want full employment for our people.
We want an end to the robbery by the Capitalists of our Black Community.
We want decent housing, fit for shelter of human beings.
We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in present-day society.
We want all Black men to be exempt from military service.
We want an immediate end to POLICE BRUTALITY and MURDER of Black people.
We want freedom for all Black men held in federal, state, county and city prisons and jails.
We want all Black people when brought to trial to be tried in court by a jury of their peer group or people from their Black Communities, as defined by the Constitution of the United States.
We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace.
Afrofuturism
Video: Artists Speak about "Afrofuturism: Revelation, Revolution" 15 min
NYTimes: "Afrofuturism: The Next Generation" --Excellent introduction!
Video--"Before Yesterday We Could Fly," the Afrofuturist Period Room at the Met (27 min--starts 3 min in).
Video: Afrofuturism--What Does it Mean for Black People to Have a Future? 5 min
18. Appadurai's Five "Scapes" of Neoliberal Globalization
Ethnoscape
Technoscape
Idioscape
Mediascapes
Financescape
Afrofuturism
NYTimes: "Afrofuturism: The Next Generation" --Excellent introduction!
Video: Artists Speak about "Afrofuturism: Revelation, Revolution" 15 min
Video--"Before Yesterday We Could Fly," the Afrofuturist Period Room at the Met (27 min--starts 3 min in).
Black Joy TikTok
