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.

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 in Indonesian of 750 words due one week after class seminar for individual students

One short essay in Indonesian of 750 words (20%) due mid semester

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

Indonesian 2B (INDN2003/INDN6003 or SEAI2003) or Indonesian 2B In Country (INDN2006/INDN6205)

Prescribed Text: Available through the Southeast Asia Centre.