South & SE Asian Studies

This introductory level course familiarizes students to a variety of local Singapore texts from a variety of genres - poetry, short stories, plays, novels, and film. Students gain a deeper understanding of major themes, cultures, identities and lifestyles represented in Singapore literature, as well as national issues and perspectives. It introduces students to Singapore literature and culture through a literary lens. It includes major works of literature by Singaporean authors, such as Edwin Thumboo, Catherine Lim, Kuo Pao Kun, Haresh Sharma, Gwee Li Sui, Claire Tham, Philip Jeyeratnam, Tan Tarn How and films by Eric Khoo, as well as a wide range of critical essays and commentaries. Students analyze works by the authors from a variety of perspectives, in an effort to evaluate how the artistic community frames images of Singapore. This is a suitable course for students that do not have a background in Singapore literature. 

This course examines the history of the Indian subcontinent from the 18th century to the present day. It begins by examining the twilight of the Mughal empire on the one hand, and the gradual expansion of European power across the region on the other. After looking at the ways in which the Portuguese and the Dutch established themselves around the Indian Ocean littoral at a time when territorial control was firmly in the hands of local rulers, it then examines how large parts of this region were incorporated into the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the process it examines the pivotal political, economic and social transformations witnessed under colonial rule and examine its legacies. Using a focus on South Asia to probe and better comprehend the development and dissolution of colonialism, it will simultaneously probe forms of colonial control to identify the forces that have most profoundly shaped the region today.

This course examines the influence and impact that magic and myth have in Southeast Asian society. Students examine the duality of magic as a norm and a taboo, and explore magic’s role in righting injustices, recording denied history, and gender inequality. Students conduct a comparative study between aspects of magic and mythmaking between Southeast Asia and other regions in the world. The course applies themes and theories from academic material to the real world. 

This course examines various historical networks that flow across the Malay world from the 11th to the 21st centuries. It introduces students to the evolution, characteristics, and impact of commercial, diasporic, political, religious, educational, and media networks on the lives of Malays and other communities in the region. The three themes that recur throughout the course are: how networks are formed and sustained; how they interact with one another; how insights from different disciplines can aid in a more holistic study of these networks.

This course provides an overview of the historical development of India and South Asia. It addresses questions of Indian and South Asian historiography, covers the main continuities and changes in Indian and South Asian history, and identifies important personae and events. The course develops the general ability to understand key processes and events and their local/national and global relevance for the region today.

This course examines the politics of Southeast Asia. Topics covered include: colonialism, nationalism, democracy, authoritarianism, war, economic development, social development, overseas Chinese, ethnicity, religion, populism, and international relations, as they apply to Southeast Asian politics.

This course introduces students to the intricacies of the end-of-life journey, fostering empathy, cultural sensitivity, and practical knowledge to navigate this inevitable part of the human experience with wisdom and compassion. Students explore the historical, philosophical, and cultural aspects surrounding death and dying and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse beliefs, rituals and attitudes that have emerged across different civilizations and time periods in Southeast Asia. This comprehensive exploration encourages critical thinking and fosters an appreciation of the significance of death in shaping human societies and its profound impact on shaping the human psyche and world cultures.