BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN SOCIAL STUDIES

SPECIALIZATION: Social Studies (Pri., Sec., & E. C.)

COURSE NAME: Cultural Studies

COURSE CODE: SS202SEB

YEAR TWO

NUMBER OF CREDITS: 3

NUMBER OF HOURS: 45

PREREQUISITES: NONE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary genre of inquiry that encompasses the Humanities,

Natural and Social Sciences. An understanding of CulturalStudies creates/provides the
framework for an individual’s understanding of his background, foundation and how this impacts
one’s development. It also informs what we do and how we plan for the future. The students of
Cultural Studies will examine the socially transmitted beliefs, values, institutions, behaviours,
traditions, rituals, and popular customs as a way of life of Caribbean people. They also explore
the relationship between culture and the structure of our institutions as well as relationships
among culture, heritage, global art forms and expressions.

COURSE CONTENT

Unit 1 – Approaches to Cultural Studies

No of hours: 10 hrs

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to:

1. Explain theories and concepts relating to Cultural Studies

2. Examine Cultural Studies from historical and Caribbean perspectives.
3. Evaluate principal work and theories of culture (Plantation, Plural Society, Creole,
Functionalist, Marxist)
4. Discuss the value of contributions made by theorists to the development of Cultural
Studies
5. Show appreciation for the various approaches to Cultural Studies.
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Content

1. The meaning of culture

- Definitions / perspectives of culture: culture as a state of mind; culture as a way of
life; culture as collective body of arts and intellectual works
- Components of culture: symbols, language, values, norms
- Characteristics of culture: culture is learned; culture is comprehensive etc.
- Concepts of culture: cultural determinism; cultural ethnocentrism; cultural relativism;
xenocentrism
- Significance of culture
2. Cultural manifestations
- Ways in which culture is manifested: symbols (gestures, objects etc), heroes (people
who are highly prized in a culture), rituals, values
- Caribbean examples of cultural manifestations
3. Cultural Processes and Change; factors influencing these
- Cultural diffusion
- Acculturation
- Assimilation
- Accommodation
- syncretism
4. Application of cultural theorists
- Sociological views on culture: Marxism, Functionalism
- Caribbean Society theories: Plantation Society theory, Plural Society theory, Creole
Society theory

Unit 2

Heritage and Material Culture

No of hours: 10

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to:

1) Explain concepts related to heritage and material culture

2) Identify heritage sites in the Caribbean and elsewhere

3) Plan the organization of visits to local heritage sites

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4) Develop case studies in relation to heritage sites

Content

1. Heritage as a cultural construct

- What is heritage?
- Heritage vs Culture
- Is there any such thing as heritage?
2. Elements of material and non-material culture
- Tangible (art work, buildings, dress, tools etc.) and intangible (dance, music, literary
style etc) elements of Caribbean / Jamaican heritage
- How do these reflect our values, attitudes, beliefs etc?
3. Relevance and use of heritage sites
- Categories of heritage sites in Jamaica: churches, great houses, cemeteries, forts etc
o History and significance of specific sites
- Criteria and process for declaring heritage sites
o Declaration of sites locally by the JNHT
o Declaration of world heritage sites by UNESCO
4. Private and public sector policies related to heritage
5. Heritage and Tourism
- What is heritage tourism?
- Heritage tourism in Jamaica: policy, sites
- Value and impact of heritage tourism (cultural, social, economic, environmental)

Unit 3

Cultural Diversity

No of hours 15

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students should be able to:

1. Explain concepts related to cultural diversity

2. Show how historical experiences gave rise to cultural diversity in the Caribbean/ World
3. Explain the relationship between culture and the formation of societal institutions
4. Compare and contrast ethnic practices in the region
5. Assess changing cultural perspectives on gender and sexuality.
6. Co-operate effectively in groups to complete assign tasks.

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Content

1. Cultural diversity as a social phenomenon

- What is cultural diversity?
- Value / importance of diversity
- Factors influencing diversity in cultures: presence of social categories; development
of subcultures etc
2. Relationships between historical experiences and cultural diversity in the Caribbean
- Ethnic groups in the Caribbean, factors (push and pull) influencing their movement
into the region
3. Impact of ethnic practices on societal institutions
- Contributions of the different ethnic groups
- Origin and impact of Caribbean cultural forms: language, music, dance, religious
practices, customs and folkways

Unit 4

Management and Preservation of Culture

No of hours 10

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast cultural management and preservation systems locally, regionally,
and internationally.
2. Devise strategies for engendering sustainable preservation of cultural elements.
3. Evaluate authenticity of heritage sites as valid representation of material culture
4. Assess governmental and non-governmental support for cultural management,
preservation and future development.
5. Show appreciation for Management and Preservation of Culture.

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Content

1. Role and responsibilities of government/non-government intuitions in the management

and preservation of culture
- Ministry of Education/Culture/Tourism
- Jamaican National Heritage Trust
- Institute of Jamaica
- NEPA
- UNESCO
- JCDC
- National Library
- TPDCo
2. Contribution of individuals / advocacy/interest groups
3. Legislative framework for management and preservation of culture
- Laws : JNHT Act, NRCA Act etc
- Policies and Conventions (International): National Cultural Policy of Jamaica;
UNESCO conventions etc
4. Cultural Management evaluation systems/strategies
- Culture in Education Programme (CIEP)

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture /discussion

Independent research, fieldwork

Group work

Site visits

Digital presentations

ASSESSMENT: Coursework Only (100%)

1. Research Essay: 10%

2. Reflection: 5%
3. Case Study/Fieldwork: 35%
4. Research and Presentation: 50%

RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND REQUIRED READING

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Alleyne, M. (2002).The Construction and Representation of Race and Ethnicity in the Caribbean
and the World. Kingston: University of the West Indies

Beckford, E. (2006). Caribbean Studies Notes (for CAPE students)

Hall, K. And Denis Benn (2000).Contending with Destiny: The Caribbean in the 21st Century.
Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers.

Harney, S. (2006).Nationalism and identity: Culture and the imagination in a Caribbean

Diaspora. Kingston: University of the West Indies Press.

Khan, A. (2001).“Identity, personhood, and religion in the Caribbean context”. In Patrick Taylor
(2001). Nation dance: Religion identity and cultural difference in the Caribbean. Kingston: Ian
Randle Publishers.

Lowenthal, D. (1972). West Indian Societies. New York: Oxford University Press

Mintz, S. (1989).Caribbean Transformations. New York: Columbia University Press

Mustapha, Nasser. (2009). Sociology for Caribbean Students. Kingston: Ian Randle Publishers

http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culture-and-diversity/main
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/resources/report/the-unesco-world-report-on-cultural-diversity/

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/education-for-sustainable-
development/cultural-diversity/

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