The Arizona State University (ASU) will add new classes to the curriculum that will allow opportunities for students to learn about South Asian cultures. Four courses are being added for the purpose, namely, Modern and Contemporary Art of India and South Asia, the Bollywood Nation, the Dances of India, and the Religion of India.
The Modern and Contemporary Art of India and South Asia has 12 seats, all of which have been reserved. The course commences on Aug. 22 and will end on Oct. 11. It will be taught by Prof. Ralph Gabbard, affiliated faculty with Center for Asian Research at ASU. His expertise lies in art history, east Asian and South Asian, and Southeast Asian studies.
The Bollywood Nation course will focus on how Bollywood relates to shifting ideas of Indian national identity. It will analyze how choreography and music in these films, narrative structure, representation of marginalized populations, and historical and political references among other things relate to changing conceptions in India. The course will be taught between Aug. 22 to Dec. 6 by Nilanjana Bhattacharjya.
The Dances of India course will introduce Indian folk dances to students. Emphasis will be on the history and various movement elements of an ancient South Indian classical dance form, known as Bharata Natyam. It will be taught between Aug. 22 to Dec. 6 by Rinku Das, owner of Nrityajyoti Dance Academy.
The Religions of India course will offer an In-depth analysis of major Indian religious traditions in historical and contemporary context, with attention to theologies, textural genres, doctrines, rituals, political and cultural expressions. It will be taught between Aug. 22 to Dec. 6 by Nandita Punj, religious studies faculty at ASU.
Speaking about ASU expanding on inclusivity on an academic scale, Prof. Das said, “"I feel that any method to make people aware of any nation is a big step towards inclusivity and diversity, which is ASU’s mission…By doing that, the students will come closer to each other, and they will make an effort to understand each other's culture."
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