South & SE Asian Studies

This course examines the historical evolution of Singapore as a global city-state against the contexts of global changes and developments from the 14th to the 21st century. The course is open to all students interested in Singapore studies.

Students focus on contemporary forms and practices of Malay families and households, the underlying concepts in family studies, and prevalent notions of the Malay family and household. A major focus is the changing nature of Malay family and household structures and their diverse forms. Students analyze the dynamic social relationships in households from different perspectives. The course explores how Malay families design family styles in a context of changing societies and is targeted for students interested in family studies.

This course introduces the variety of music in Southeast Asia, from traditional to pop, and contributes to students' understanding of the region. Lectures with audiovisual illustrations, which emphasize cultural and contextual approaches, are complemented by practical instruction in playing Javanese gamelan music. The course explores the different musical aesthetics, changing cultural and social contexts and functions (from village and palace rituals to arts academies, the cassette industry, and concerts), musical and cultural interaction, and the changing musical landscape of Southeast Asia.

South Asia today is not only geo-politically significant but has risen to global prominence as an important locale for burgeoning economic growth and development, cultural production and nation building. This course provides a theoretical framework and empirical illustrations to make this complex region both accessible and better understood. The teaching is multi-disciplinary, providing a unique mix of sociological and anthropological approaches to the region.

This course introduces the study of martial arts in Southeast Asia from an academic and experiential perspective. Students analyze journal articles, books, and materials from social media to understand how various social, political, economic, and historical forces impacted on the production and performance of martial arts in the region. The course is complemented with hands-on sessions that further the understanding of complex historical, sociological, and cultural dimensions of various combat genres. Student assignments such as essays and group video projects reveal new ways in how Southeast Asia can be understood from multi-disciplinary perspectives.

This course covers issues concerning the causes, processes, obstacles, and consequences of democratic transition in the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia - three of the largest and the most populous countries of Southeast Asia. The specific issues to be covered include economic growth and stagnation, the middle class, capitalist rule, rural politics, political parties, military coups, corruption, electoral violence, gangsters, social movements, street protests, the monarchy, communal conflicts, and female politicians.

This course explores anthropology in Thailand. 

This course provides a basic understanding of Malay. Emphasis is on conversational Malay and its practical everyday discourse. To facilitate immersion into the language, students are taught listening, reading, writing, and conversing in basic conversational Malay. The rudiments of Malay grammar are taught where relevant or necessary.

This course studies gender categories and roles in Thai society. It provides an overview of the different theories relevant to the understanding of gender and sexuality; examines the social structure and ideas related to gender and sexuality in Thailand’s history and contemporary society; and analyzes the progress of feminism and LGBT’s rights in Thailand.