People and Cultures of Peru

 

This course will be taught in English.

 

The course has a total of 45 teaching hours spent in 30 sessions of 90 minutes.

 

 

This class is a multidisciplinary survey of the social, economic, and cultural forces that have shaped everyday life in Peru, from colonial to modern times. The course starts with a presentation of the Peruvian history to better understand the Peruvian culture. This section focuses on the economics, politics and societies of Peru. The second section explores social and environmental movements and intellectual currents in the history of Peru and their influence in the political projects of the country. The third section will address the process of colonizing the Amazon, migration, influence of slavery and Andean Syncretism and how these processed fused to create the current Peruvian state and culture.

 

• Analyze, discuss and understand the people and cultures of Peru.
• Offer a comprehensive and multidisciplinary understanding on the contemporary condition of Peruvian society, combining historically grounded information, reflection on current events, and ethnographic work.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the origins of complex cultures and their effects on modern society.
• Elaborate an academically informed argument about people and cultures of Peru in contemporary society, based on a larger understanding of the topics within this course.

 

There are no requirements for this class

 

All reading materials will be distributed electronically in Cusco. No books are required for this class. The titles listed below are resources for the reading that will be distributed.

Starn Orin, Degregori Carlos Iván, Kirk Robin. 2009. The Peru Reader: History, Culture, Politics. Duke University Press.

ISBN 0822387506, 9780822387503

 

De la Cadena, Marisol. 2000. Indigenous Mestizos: The Politics of Race and Culture in Cuzco, Peru, 1919-1991. Duke University Press.

ISBN-10: 082232420

 

Attendance and participation      10%
Assignments             10%
Mid-term Exam             20%
Final Paper and presentation      40%
Final Exam              20% 

Attendance requirements for this class follow the ISA-Cusco Handbook: Regular attendance in class is required of all ISA students; however, students will be allowed 3 unexcused absences per course. For every additional unexcused absence, 5 points will be deducted from the student's overall grade. If a student accumulates more than 5 unexcused absences, he/she will be placed on academic probation and their home university will be notified. In the event of an emergency or illness, students should petition for an excused absence from their professor with the appropriate documentation within a week of the absence. In the event of an excused absence, students will be expected to confer with their professor(s) regarding the possibility of making up any missed coursework, homework and/or exams. In the event of an unexcused absence students are responsible for any missed coursework and notes, but late homework will not be accepted. The third time a student is more than 10 minutes late to class; it will be considered an unexcused absence.

 

For the final paper each student will choose a topic from the syllabus and analyze the topic in detail, topics for discussion may include: comparison to home country, effects on current Peruvian society or environment, and possible and current changes that are can/are being instated. The research for this paper should be based in interviews, academic articles or in literary sources. On week four the student must turn in a proposed topic and list of references consulted previously. The papers should not exceed twelve (12) pages or be shorter than ten (10) pages, not including references, images or tables. They should be typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double spaced.

 

The final presentation will be based on the student?s final paper and focused on the analysis of their research. The students are able to use PowerPoint or any other media approved by the professor. The presentation will not exceed than 15 minutes and will not be shorter than 10 minutes.

 

The final exam will be administered during class time on the date noted in the class schedule. The exam will review the entire course. The exam will be graded out of 100%. Rescheduling of exams will not be accepted except in cases of documented unforeseeable emergencies. Traveling and fieldwork do not qualify as such; please, plan accordingly.

 

Late papers will not be accepted except in cases of unforeseeable emergencies. The same policy applies for granting extensions. Traveling and fieldwork do not qualify as such. The syllabus schedule will be held to; please plan accordingly.

 

I will thoroughly prosecute and report any cases of academic misconduct. Plagiarism is an unquestionable violation of the academic integrity that every college student should be committed to. Papers that present clear evidence of plagiarism will automatically earn and ?F?, and in most cases will represent a final failing grade. Other unacceptable cases of academic misconduct may include (but are not limited to) creating hazards or disruptions in class, taking advantage of your peers? work, or disrespecting your classmates even when participating in a discussion. Please refer to your college?s conduct system and/or honor code for further guidance on academic integrity