GLOBALIZATION: CULTURE, CHANGE, RESISTANCE
COLT 303. 12:30-1:50/TTH. Taper Hall 106
Professor: E. HILL
Department of French and Italian / Department of Comparative Literature
Office Hours: 2-3 TTH, Taper Hall 155E
Contact: edwinhil@usc.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The word "globalization" tends to make us think of contemporary transformations in the management and
movement of purely economic and political phenomena (such as banking, trade, and markets) seemingly made
inevitable by modern technologies of communication, travel, and exchange. This course explores the often
overlooked cultural dimensions of globalization, as well as its many counter-narratives of critique and discontent. It
focuses on the way women writers, filmmakers, musicians and other intellectuals have critically imagined,
documented, and analyzed marginalized perspectives on globalization and border-crossing. We will learn about and
discuss how women live and critique dynamics of globalization in the contexts of: neoliberalism, humanitarianism
and NGOs; domestic work and (sexual) tourism; new media; militarism and the prison industry; neo-imperialism;
migration; transnational activism and solidarity; environmentalism.
MATERIALS
1) Paule Marshall. The Chosen Place, The Timeless People. Vintage, 1984.
2) Patrick Chamoiseau. Texaco: A Novel. Reprint. Vintage, 1998.
3) Gloria Anzaldúa. Borderlands/La Frontera, The New Mestiza. 3rd ed. Aunt Lute, 2007.
4) Norma Iglesias Prieto. Beautiful Flowers of the Maquiladora: Life Histories of Women Workers in Tijuana. 1st
ed. University of Texas Press, 1997.
5) Films including:
a) Abbott and Achbar, The Corporation
b) Stephanie Black, Life and Debt.
c) Others TBA
6) Critical readings assigned weekly, posted on Blackboard, including selections from works such as:
a) Harvey, David. Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford University Press, USA, 2007.
b) Alexander, M. Jacqui. Pedagogies of Crossing: Meditations on Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and
the Sacred. Duke University Press, 2005.
c) Saussy, Haun. Comparative Literature in an Age of Globalization. The Johns Hopkins University Press,
2006.
d) Appadurai, Arjun. Modernity At Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization. 1st ed. Univ of
Minnesota Press, 1996.
e) Mohanty, Chandra. Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity.
Duke University Press, 2003.
f) Glissant, Edouard. Poetics of Relation. University of Michigan Press, 1997.
g) Alim, H. Samy et al. Global Linguistic Flows: Hip Hop Cultures, Youth Identities, and the Politics of
Language. New York, NY, 2009.
h) Mowitt, John. Re-takes: Postcoloniality and Foreign Film Languages. 1st ed. Univ of Minnesota Press,
2005.
i) Shohat, Ella, and Robert Stam. Multiculturalism, Postcoloniality, and Transnational Media. Rutgers
University Press, 2003.
j) Maira, Sunaina, Elisabeth Soep, and George Lipsitz. Youthscapes: The Popular, the National, the Global.
University of Pennsylvania Press, 2004.
k) Naomi Klein. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. 1st ed. Picador, 2008..
l) Gilmore, Ruth Wilson. Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing
California. 1st ed. University of California Press, 2007.
n) Mies, Maria, and Vandana Shiva. Ecofeminism. Zed Books, 1993.
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REQUIREMENTS
In-Class Work 20%
Group Project/JEP 20% [DUE WKS 15 & 16]
Group Project/Proposal (3 pp + bibliography, 5%) [DUE WK 9]
Group Project/Presentation/JEP (30mn, 10%)
Group Project/ Follow Up Essay (6+ pp, 5%) [DUE WK AFTER PRESENTATION]
Midterm Paper 20% [DUE WK 6]
Research Paper 20%
Research Paper Proposal (3 pp + bibliography, 5%) [WK 11]
Research Paper (10+pp, + bibliography, 15%) [WK 16]
Final Exam 20%
IN-CLASS WORK 20%
Individual writing exercises and group work done in class will be collected and graded on a regular basis. In-Class
Work also includes participation: being focused and ready for class (on time with readings), having a positive
attitude, taking notes, asking and answering questions, and participating in discussions, contributing consistently in
group work. NO LATE IN-CLASS WORK CAN BE ACCEPTED.
GROUP PROJECT PROPOSAL/PRESENTATION/FOLLOW UP ESSAY 20%
Groups of four will give a 30 minute research project presentation. The objective of projects is to use critical
perspectives and lines of interrogation developed in readings and class discussions in order to think about
globalization in Los Angeles. For example, the group could attend an anti-globalization rally, interview people
attending, writing about the organization(s) sponsoring it, and present how the rally and organization respond to
select course critical issues and core concepts. All projects should include interviews/interactions with people as
well as specific engagement with critical research. The group must present a 3-4 page research proposal for
approval. The proposal should describe the project and its purpose, outline the major research questions of interest,
and how the project engages with specific texts read in class. In addition, to the proposal, the group must also submit
an annotated bibliography not to exceed 2 pages describing critical research that will be used in the project. The
follow up essay should be completed before the end of the semester and posted online. Students will be tested on the
presentations for the final exam.
Midterm Paper 20%
6-8 page (+bibliography and notes) analytical paper. The topic will be given by the Professor. A hard copy of papers
must be submitted in class as well as submitted to Blackboard for review through academic integrity software (Turn
It In).
RESEARCH PAPER 20%
10+ page (+bibliography and notes) analytical research paper. The students will design their own topic building on
one of the readings or films discussed in class. A one page research project proposal must be submitted for approval.
A hard copy of papers must be submitted in class as well as submitted to Blackboard for review through academic
integrity software (Turn It In).
FINAL EXAM 20%
The final exam is a comprehensive evaluation consisting of short answer and essay questions covering the core
concepts from readings, lectures, discussion sessions, and group presentations from the entire semester.
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COURSE POLICIES
Attendance is mandatory. Beginning with the third unexcused absence, 2 points will be taken of the overall point
total per missed class. Attendance is taken generally at the beginning of class; students who arrive late bear the
responsibility of informing the professor AFTER CLASS.
Paper formatting. All papers must be double spaced with 1” margins and 12 pt Times New Roman font. Essays and
the research paper must follow the MLA rules of citation and bibliography. Papers that fail to follow the rules of
citation and submission will be graded down.
Late work will not be accepted. As mentioned above, papers must be turned in at the beginning of the class period.
Only hardcopies will be accepted, no email submissions. Students must attend the class session and personally turn
in their work for it to be accepted. Please do not turn in your paper and leave, or attempt to turn in papers through
classmates or friends, these papers will not be accepted.
NO LAPTOPS FOR NOTE TAKING. Using personal computers to take notes in the class distracts everyone in the
room. Please take notes in class by hand and refrain from use of all electronic devices. On some occasions I may ask
you to bring your computers for group work. (Of course, text messaging and phone use will not be allowed.)
NO EATING IN CLASS. Beverages are fine, subject to the rules of the facility.
DSP. Students requesting academic accommodations based on a disability are required to register with Disability
Services and Programs (DSP) at the beginning of the semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations
should be attained from DSP when the appropriate documentation is filed and the letter must be delivered to the
instructor as soon as possible. DSP, located in 301 in the Student Union, is open Mon-Fri during regular business
hours.
READING SCHEDULE OVERVIEW (Subject to change)
WEEKS 1-2 Globalization and its Critique
Primary
Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place
Critical
Harvey, David. Brief History of Neoliberalism.
Appadurai, Arjun. Modernity At Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization.
WEEKS 3-5 Globalization, Culture, Knowledge
Primary
Paule Marshall, The Chosen Place, The Timeless People
Critical
Appadurai, Arjun. Modernity At Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization.
Alexander, M. Jacqui. Pedagogies of Crossing: Meditations on Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and
the Sacred.
Mohanty, Chandra. Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity.
Saussy, Haun. Comparative Literature in an Age of Globalization.
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WEEKS 6-8 Networks and New Media
Primary
Patrick Chamoiseau, Texaco.
Critical
Glissant, Edouard. Poetics of Relation.
Alim, H. Samy et al. Global Linguistic Flows: Hip Hop Cultures, Youth Identities, and the Politics of
Language.
Mowitt, John. Re-takes: Postcoloniality and Foreign Film Languages.
Shohat, Ella, and Robert Stam. Multiculturalism, Postcoloniality, and Transnational Media.
WEEKS 9-11 Cosmopolitanism and Transnationalism
Primary
Gloria Anzaldúa. Borderlands/La Frontera, The New Mestiza.
Critical
Alexander, M. Jacqui. Pedagogies of Crossing: Meditations on Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and
the Sacred.
Lipsitz, George. Dangerous Crossroads: Popular Music, Postmodernism and the Focus of Place.
WEEKS 12-14 Lands and Conquests
Primary
Norma Iglesias Prieto. Beautiful Flowers of the Maquiladora
Critical
Chang, Grace. Disposable Domestics: Immigrant Women Workers in the Global Economy.
Naomi Klein. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. and/or
---. No Logo: No Space, No Choice, No Jobs.
Gilmore, Ruth Wilson. Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California.
WEEKS 15-16 Presentations
Primary
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Critical
Sturgeon, Noel. Ecofeminist Natures: Race, Gender, Feminist Theory and Political Action.
Mies, Maria, and Vandana Shiva. Ecofeminism.
Mohanty, Chandra. Feminism without Borders: Decolonizing Theory, Practicing Solidarity.
FINAL EXAM -- WEDNESDAY // MAY 12 // 2PM-4PM
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