Comparative History of Ideas: INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Cape Town, South Africa, Summer 2010

Critical Perspectives on the 2010 Football World Cup

(Program dates: June 21, 2010 - August 20, 2010 -- 12 Credits

Sponsored by The Comparative History of Ideas ,

Status: Applications will be accepted until November 27, 2009

*PLEASE join CHID and Cape Town program director Ron Krabill for information sessions to find out more about the program*

Tuesday, November 3rd at 3:30 p.m. at the Bothell Campus

AND

Monday, November 16th at 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, November 18th at 12 p.m.

CHID Lounge - Padelford C-101

THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND A WORK IN PROGRESS. INFORMATION ON THE SITE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CHID INTERNATIONAL OFFICE AT chidint@uw.edu.

The intention of this program is to provide an understanding of the historical and cultural factors that have contributed to ethnic divisions in South Africa, and particularly in Cape Town and also to explore the diverse approaches of contemporary community groups and other organizations toward fostering new conceptions of community and identity. This approach will allow students to study the historical origins of social conflict while also engaging directly with community groups who are attempting to create from the past new possibilities for meaning and social formation.

The World Cup will be central to most events going on in South Africa during the time that the program will be there. The daily experiences of all involved with the program will be shaped by the World Cup and we will do readings and focus much of our work through the lens of the Cup and the ways in which it makes visible or exacerbates the trends/situations/issues (economic disparity, racism, etc.) in daily South African life. We are also hoping to have a project option to complete a community media project with South African youth, working with video cameras to produce small films on their experiences of the Cup. As stated above, the program is being developed now and information is subject to change.

Program Description

Students will participate in a total of three classes and one workshop as part of the South Africa program. We will begin spring quarter with a three-credit graded (CHID 498) general introduction to South African history. This will be comprised of a series of historical and theoretical readings, focusing on the historical and cultural context of social movements in both pre and post Apartheid South Africa. Students will be strongly encourage to make connections between U.S. history and South African history.

We will continue this discussion in South Africa with a five-credit course (CHID 473) that will include a variety of community-based organizations and activist perspectives. The core course will be comprised of guest speakers, theoretical readings, seminar-style discussions, and both analytical and creative-personal reflections in writing. Students will be encouraged to develop a variety of tools and ways for interrogating their own subject positions in relation to their experience in South Africa.

A second five-credit course (SISAF 490 or CHID 473B) "engaged community learning" project will provide an opportunity for students to apply their analytical skills and understanding of the historical and cultural context to a close participation in the work of local organizations. The diversity of these community efforts will allow students to engage their particular interests through participation in social welfare organizations, grassroots community groups, after-school programs, health clinics, theater and other performing arts groups, as well as video and other visual arts projects.

The final assignment will be to participate in a two-credit “reflection workshop,” which will be facilitated by a professional teaching artist. This workshop will be a unique opportunity for students to explore what they’ve learned, both theoretically and experientially. Students will be encouraged to express themselves in a variety of ways, including supported dialogue, poetry, song and dance.

Students will be challenged to examine both the systems social divisions that exist, and their own capacity to conform to or challenge those systems. A diverse roster of UW students will rely on each other’s varied experiences of South Africa as a resource on understanding issues of race, gender, ethnicity and class. This will require cooperation and support among all of the students and staff on the program.

This program is open to students from all backgrounds. All students are encouraged to apply.

Curriculum

More specific information about the course will become available when interviews begin. Feel free to contact the CHID office to stay informed.

Cost

The program fee is still being finalized and is expected to be around $4,800, including the $350 deposit. This fee will cover program costs, housing, credits, transportation and overnight accommodations for field trips. Upon acceptance, participants are required to submit a signed payment contract to the CHID office. At this time, the non-refundable $350 deposit, applied to the program fee, and a $250 fee for the Office of International Programs & Exchanges (IPE) will be assessed to the student’s tuition account.

The program fee does not cover: IPE fee, airfare, meals, insurance or personal travel and expenses. The CHID Program reserves the right to change the program fee based upon dollar devaluation or severe inflation. If such a change occurs, students will be notified of the increase and an adjustment will be made to the final program payment. All fees are charged to students’ accounts, and paid the same way as tuition.