ASC 5194 THE GLOBAL MEDITERRANEAN
http://kinesabroad.rutgers.edu/academics/mediterranean-diet
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
TERM: Autumn 2018 CREDITS: 3
LEVEL: Undergrad; Honors; Grad
LOCATION: Hagerty Hall 42
INSTRUCTOR: Danielle V. Schoon
CLASS TIME: WF 2:20-3:40pm
EMAIL: schoon.2@osu.edu SECTIONS: Undergrad #35563; Grad #35562
PREREQ: Jr. Sr., or Grad standing; or permission of instructor
The history of the Mediterranean region is one of co-existence and conflict. It has captured the imagination of writers, travelers, and scholars for centuries. In the past few decades, however, the Mediterranean region has been reconfigured extensively, not only in political, economic, and cultural terms, but also in the ways it is conceptualized. Is there or has there ever been a ‘Mediterranean culture’? Yet, the concept remains active in the popular imagination (consider the many books about the ‘Mediterranean diet’). Recently, the region has dominated the news with stories of the Arab Spring, the dramatic economic downturns in Greece, Italy and Spain, and the migration crisis. We must ask not only what connects the places and peoples of the Mediterranean, but also what divides them. This course examines the governments, societies, and cultures of the Mediterranean. We will pay attention to the ‘East/West’ paradigm as a prism through which to examine past and present events. As the region connects a global network that shapes local developments, we will consider the reach and relationship of the Mediterranean to other parts of the world.
This course is cross-listed in French and Italian, Film Studies, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Comparative Studies, and Germanic Languages and Literatures. Consult your home department for credit towards major or minor.