Focussing on the politics of identity in everyday life, this course offers a general introduction to major issues in the study of popular culture and cultural studies. Secondly, the subject discusses critically selected works on popular cultures in selected countries of Southeast Asia, and relates them to the general issues mentioned above.

Three inter-related areas of interest will run throughout the course, and will serve as the course’s foci: (a) questions of the location of a particular study of popular culture in the broader mapping of the study of culture in general; (b) questions concerning value judgements -- aesthetic or political; (c) particular connections, contrasts, or parallels among the different cases studied.

No prior mastery of an Asian language or knowledge of Southeast Asia is required, but familiarity with the society and language mastery of relevance would be an advantage.

By the end of the semester, students are expected to be able to

(a) recognise and explain the aesthetic, social, and ideological significance of the selected works of popular culture in Southeast Asia.

(b) write a non-specialist, but analytical essay on one aspect of popular cultures in Southeast Asia;

(c) able to identify potential areas of significance for further research of a broader scope.

Class participation  (ongoing) 10% (weekly);

Oral presentation for class discussion on assigned reading materials (10%);

One short essay 750 words (20%) due one week after class seminar for individual students;

One short essay 750 words (20%) due mid semester;

One long essay 3,500 words (40%) due early exam period

Three class hours a week

Preliminary Reading: Available through the Soutjeast Asia Centre.

Can be taken as a non-language course only.