Second-year seminar (SYS) comprises the second tier of the AUCA writing program. While FYS focuses on the philosophical and literary traditions of humanity, SYS foregrounds scientific analyses. In SYS, students explore features of contemporary social processes: (post)modernity, globalization, normativity, publicity, technology, communication, mediatization and, of course, power and freedom. SYS is built on the premise that knowledge is always mediated by the value orientations of individual or collective actors and is formed by specific social practices as a means of making informed decisions in an ever-changing world. The course contributes to developing skills required in any area of social and professional life.
“The Political and Moral Economy of Global Heritage” is focused on UNESCO and its heritage-related activities. The 21st century, if we trust pundits, is the age of heritage: communities of all sizes and constitutions are feverishly involved in defining, promoting, and protecting their heritage. In this “heritage craze”, UNESCO stands out as the international authority over what kind of heritage is worth of global recognition.
This seminar starts by exploring how heritage is defined by UNESCO and by introducing UNESCO as a key player on the global level in the 21st century: students will learn how it was created, when and how it became involved with heritage, what its past and current policies on global heritage are, and why its policies and choices are sometimes hailed and sometimes heatedly disputed.
Students will then visit, virtually, breathtaking places, admire exquisite objects, and succumb to the power of various cultural expressions. During each of these encounters students will explore:
- How heritage items – sites, objects, expressions -- come into being and how they access to UNESCO’s recognition
- What happens once they are recognized as world heritage by UNESCO
In doing so, students will learn how to assess cultural differences and how to think critically about cultural diversity. They will:
- look at nature, architecture, and artefacts write about their own appreciation – or lack thereof – of heritage items and compare their writings to official textual descriptions of these same heritage items
- listen to music or epics, watch dance or theatre performances; describe their aesthetic or affective connections to them and reflect on how others connect.
Students will next be introduced to the issue of heritage controversies. They will analyze why some of UNESCO’s choices spark heated debates about cultural property and whether cultural or heritage diplomacy succeeds in alleviating these disputes.
Lastly, students will dwell on the the threats to heritage in the 21st century as well as on the actors and policies engaged in warding off these threats. They will learn about the commodification of heritage and heritage tourism and they will reflect on the complex relations that heritage creates between local communities, national governments and international organizations.
Learning outcomes
This course will reinforce competencies that are critical for all AUCA students:
ü the ability to think critically and to analyze problems and issues from multiple perspectives
ü skills in communication and presentation, including the ability to form and present complex arguments and analyses in writing
ü foundational research skills, including the capacity to employ various forms of citation, compile bibliographies, assess and evaluate primary and secondary sources, and to identify materials key to a research project
ü enhanced skills in reading and writing English through continual, intensive essay assignments and engagement with a variety of complex texts in English.
ü the ability to sift through and evaluate contradictory evidence and to make arguments using citations, concrete examples, and explanations
In addition, this course will provide students with the skills to:
ü identify, describe, and attempt to understand cultural and political phenomena and how they are influenced by institutions and processes both on the national and global level.
ü articulate how beliefs, assumptions, values and ethics are influenced by factors such as economics and politics
ü differentiate between various kinds of texts about culture and heritage (official, scholarly, promotional, policy style); read and analyze these texts critically
ü understand various and oftentimes contradictory claims and arguments about culture and heritage and be able to form informed independent opinions
ü write about culture and heritage both creatively (rhetorically) and analytically
ü understand cultural differences and cultural prejudices, and practice cultural reflexivity.