I.  Course Description:

This course traces the development of the Balkans as a distinct (and not so distinct) cultural and geographical space from the time of the Byzantine Empire to the present.  We will investigate the rise and fall of two great world empires (Byzantine and Ottoman) the creation of the Balkan national states, the mechanics of the Balkan communist systems, and the perils and possibilities of the integration of the Balkans into the “West.”   Central to this investigation will be questions of definition: what are the Balkans? Who defines the meaning of the Balkans and “Balkanness?” What are its constitutive elements?  How do its meanings change over time? And, what are the implications and consequences of such understandings?  

II. Purpose:

A. Mission Statement:

An awareness of cultures other than the dominating Anglo civilization of the United States deepens our understanding of the diverse world in which we live and our place in it. When we step beyond our limited cultural surroundings and attempt to enter into the minds of others in the world community, we are often confronted with values and perspectives that both challenge our assumptions and broaden our understanding of what it is to be human. The liberally educated individual whose philosophy of life is solidly grounded in human and humane principles should understand cultural diversity and be equipped to deal with it in an informed and sensitive manner. Core 140: Foreign Cultures attempts to present the student with as full an understanding of a non-English culture as possible in the space of one semester, in an English-language classroom. 

Culture is the beliefs, customs, attitudes, values, and ideas that distinguish one group of people from another.  It is not limited by political or geographical boundaries.  Indeed, a single nation may be comprised of many cultures, and a single culture may overlap the frontier between two or more nations.  To facilitate cultural study, each Core 140 course has as its focus the development of a single nation or people.  The foundation of each Core 140 class is the history and literature of a specific group supplemented by examination of cultural artifacts such as the art, music, cinema, folklore, etc. produced by the people.  Additionally, although the course is taught in English, the class will address how the culture is reflected in verbal and non-verbal communication.  Literary and academic readings as well as multi-media materials assist students in tracing the history and ideological development of a people in order to understand their political, economic, and sociological make-up in the current regional and global context. 

Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in intercultural knowledge, including verbal and non-verbal communication
2. Demonstrate curiosity about another culture
3. Take the perspective of the people of another culture to evaluate problems, decisions, or events

III. General Course Requirements:

A. Course Readings:

Andric, Ivo, The Bridge on the River Drina, University of Chicago Press, 1977.

Kadare, Ismail, The Siege, Grove Press, 2010.

Kaplan, Robert, Balkan Ghosts: A Journey through History, Picador, 2006.

Konstantinov, Aleko, Bai Ganyo: Incredible Tales of a Modern Bulgarian, University of Wisconsin Press, 2010.

Mazower, Mark, The Balkans: A Short History, Modern Library Chronicles, 2002.

B. Course Films:

The films for the course are an intrinsic part of the course--they will be the centerpiece of class discussion on the week they are shown, and viewing them is a requirement for the course.   The films will be available on reserve at the King's College Library.  A subscription to Netflix <<www.netflix.com>> (shared or otherwise) is an inexpensive way to watch the films on your own time.    

Kusturica, Emir, Underground, 1995.

Manchevski, Mirko, Before the Rain, 1994.

IV. Assignments and Assessment:

An online class requires us to make a special effort to create and maintain a shared academic community.  I will check the course moodle site daily (unless otherwise specifically noted) for the duration of the course.  Please contact me by email or through the course’s moodle interface if you have any questions or concerns.  The assignments listed below begin with the premise that education is a collaborative endeavor—they ask that you work with and comment on one another’s work in order to wrestle with important ideas.  This will particularly be the case in the discussion forums and in the critical reviewing on one another’s work.  It goes without saying that this work should be done carefully and respectfully. 

A. Class Discussion:

An integral part of this class will be your discussing of readings with the class as a whole—as befits an online classroom much of this work will take place in discussion boards through the course moodle sites.  These discussions will take place in two parts: quizzes and discussion boards. 

1)     Quizzes:  By the end of the day (11:59 p.m.) on Thursday of each week you will need to answer a set of questions on the readings: a quiz of sorts.  These questions will ask you to think about the readings and its implications and make connections with earlier readings and discussions.  These quizzes will count for 15% of your final grade.   Importantly, these quizzes will be read by your classmates as an introduction to the weekly discussion forum.  I will cut and paste your answers from the quizzes into the forum as the first post for each discussion topic.

2)     Forum Discussions:  By the end of the day (11:59 p.m.) each Saturday you will need to have read all the forum postings (taken from your answers on the quizzes) and comment at least once on each of the discussion threads.  Each responses on should total at least 300 words.  These forum discussions will count for 15% of your final grade.

B. Microthemes:

Four times this semester you will be asked to reflect on the readings and turn in a 2 page response paper (microtheme).  These microthemes should connect the readings to larger course themes and reflect on class discussions.  Further, these microthemes will be a constituent part of your larger paper—think of them as rough drafts of your final paper which will incorporate elements from each of your microthemes.  You should make sure that the sources you chose relate to your paper topic and work well together to forward your paper’s thesis. 

The schedule and reading list for each microtheme is presented below:

C. Final Paper:

Your written assignment is due August 13^th.  This paper should address some of the questions that frame the class: what are the Balkans? Who defines the meaning of the Balkans and “Balkanness?” What are its constitutive elements?  How do its meanings change over time? And, what are the implications and consequences of such understandings?  They should tie together the work of you microthemes into a coherent and well thought out articulation of how you understand Balkan cultures.  This final paper will count for 20% of your final grade.

D. Exams:

This class will have both a midterm (taken during the seventh week of the class) and a final (taken during the twelfth week of the class).  These exams will cover material from the course readings and discussions.  Both the midterm and the final will count for 15% of your final grade.

E.  Grading:

It is your responsibility to understand why you have achieved a certain grade, and what steps you can take to maintain or improve your grade.  You should consult with the instructor during office hours or by appointment before and after exams and written assignments.

**Your final grade will be based on the following percentages

**Your grade distribution for assignments is as follows:

V. Academic Integrity:

This course adheres to guidelines on academic integrity outlined in the Student Conduct Code in the Student Handbook.  Cheating and plagiarism will be penalized in accord with the penalties and procedures indicated in that source.  All students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the definition of these infractions of academic honesty.   Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the History Department’s plagiarism policy posted below:

http://departments.kings.edu/history/honesty.html

VI. Dissabilities:

King’s College and I will make every effort to accommodate students with a bona-fide disability that impacts on their ability to learn the course material.  Please meet with me privately so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help in the learning process.

VII. Course Schedule:

“The Balkans produce more history than they can consume”—Winston Churchill

Week 1: May 22nd-May 28^th

**Reading: New York Times Series: “River of Hope to River of Blood” (course moodle site)

When and Where are the Balkans?  What do we mean by “Balkan Culture”?

Week 2: May 29^th-June 4^th

**Reading: Mazower, The Balkans (entire)

Defining “Bulgarianness”: “Balkanization” and the Development of National Identity

Aleko Konstantinov and Bai Ganyo

Week 3: June 5^th-June 11^th

**Reading: Konstantinov, Bai Ganyo (entire)

~First Microtheme due: June 11^th

Imagining the Balkans, Part I

Week 4: June 12^th-June 18^th

**Readings: Todorova, Imagining the Balkans, (moodle site)

Balkan Ghosts(!)(?)

Week 5: June 19^th-June 25^th

**Reading: Kaplan, Balkan Ghosts, (1-233)

~Second Microtheme due: June 25^th  

Balkans as Idea / Balkans as Europe

Week 6: June 26^th-July 2^nd  

**Films: Kusturica, Underground and Manchevski, Before the Rain

Midterm Exam

Week 7: July 3^rd July 9^th

“Balkans and Violence,” part I

Week 8: July 10^th-July 16^th

**Reading: Kadare, The Siege (***)

“Balkans and Violence,” part II

Week 9: July 17^th-July 23^rd

**Reading: Kadare, The Siege (***)

~Third Microtheme due July 23^rd  

Balkans as Bridge?

Week 10: July 24^th-July 30^th

**Readings:  Andric, Bridge on the River Drina (1-133)

Balkans as Bridge?

Week 11: July 31^st-August 6^th

**Readings: Andric, Bridge on the River Drina (134-314)

~Fourth Microtheme due August 3^rd

Balkans in Europe / Balkans as Europe

Week 12: August 7^th-August 13^th

**Readings: Slavenka Drakulic, Café Europa (Selections on the course moodle site)