Performing multiculturalism - International semester

Curriculum 30 credits

Nesna University College
Approved 2010

Introduction

In today's society, internationalization, globalization, multiculturalism and migration are phenomena we encounter in our daily lives be it as professionals working with music and drama or teachers working in educational settings. Knowledge, experience and competence regarding multiculturalism are crucial qualifications for future society as the future becomes increasingly multicultural.

The study of other cultures is necessary to comprehend the complexities and challenges of multiculturalism. In this course students from different parts of the world are exposed to each other's cultures.

Goals

These are the goals of the course:

- to qualify the students to work with aesthetic subjects in multicultural settings
- to qualify the students to work with multicultural understanding in education
- gain experience with cross-cultural collaboration
- increase the students' level of multicultural understanding

Students

The course is open to all students enrolled at Nesna University College or any other Norwegian college or university. International students are admitted according to the requirements specified by the NOKUT or Erasmus regulations. Students can be admitted by individual application that documents university level competence. English language proficiency must be documented as agreed on in the terms of the Erasmus regulations or in an interview with college faculty.

Content

The course focuses on multicultural work and aesthetic subjects. Students attending these studies will have both practical and theoretical classes in music and drama, theatre and multicultural understanding. The theoretical issues include; culture, identity, values, attitudes, world-views, stereotypes and prejudice.

Units

The International Semester at Nesna University College is divided into four different units that total 30 ECTS credits. All units are required to take the final examination.

- Multicultural understanding 10 credits
- Drama/theatre 10 credits
- Music 10 credits
 
Multicultural understanding

This unit gives a theoretical introduction to the field multicultural understanding. One will focus on different ways understanding and constructing identity in multicultural societies, and how different strategies are used in multicultural meetings. Topics which this unit focuses on are: culture, identity, ethnicity, nationality, values, attitudes, world-views, stereotypes and prejudice.

These are the goals of the unit:

- to develop awareness and the ability to reflect on one’s own values, attitudes and worldviews, how these might be expressed through generalizations, stereotypes and prejudice, and how we construct these conceptions and how they can be transformed.

- to gain knowledge and understanding about relevant concepts which are affiliated with multicultural understanding. Important concepts are culture, identity, ethnicity and nationality.

Drama/theatre

This unit gives an introduction to drama and theatre, with a focus on performance theory and some traditions within community theatre. The students are presented for some practical use of drama/theatre within physical theatre and performance.

These are the goals of the unit:

-         Knowledge about some central concepts in drama, theatre and performance theory

-         Knowledge about community theatre and especially the work of Augusto Boal

-         Reflections on drama/theatre and performance theory in today’s global society

 Music

This unit focuses on different traditional and popular music traditions in relation to issues such as identity, ethnicity, place, politics, migration and global cultural flow.

These are the topics of the unit:

- Globalization and global cultural flow
- Performing the Other
- Teaching music globally

Cultural globalization is a commonality in most places of the world today. This part questions the consequences this has for local communities and which potentials that music gives in a globalised world, especially regarding locality and identity.

Performing the other is practical ensemble work in groups and seeks to explore and perform traditional and popular music from different cultural areas. One will focus on the concept of world music as a category. The aim is to explore both similarities and differences in music as a social and cultural performative activity. Lectures will include topics relating to questions of cultural authenticity, identity, politics and the value of multicultural musical interaction and participation with others from different cultures.

Teaching music globally will emphasize didactical issues with both traditional and popular music as tool for cultural understanding in classrooms. Didactics in this setting includes learning styles, oral/aural techniques, listening, arranging, composition and performing.

Organization and teaching methods

The course is organized as a combination of teaching, tutoring and participation in ordinary teaching in drama/theatre and music classes from mid February through the exams in June 2009.  

-         Obligatory participation and assignment requirements

Teaching and tutoring are based on student's active participation.  The students need to finish these working requirements in order to be eligible to take the final exams.

-         3-4 page essay on a topic from the unit multicultural understanding

-         Concert and sound production - music unit

-         4-5 page lecture for a specific audience where the student a) presents and explains some basic concepts in drama/theatre and performance theory, and b) reflects on drama/theatre and performance theory in today’s global society – drama/theatre unit

 Extracurricular activities

In addition to class work the students are expected to contribute to and participate in sharing traditional material from their countries. Each country will be presented by the participating students through film, lectures, music and dance.

International students will also participate in an introductory course in Norwegian language and culture:

- The use of information- and communication technology
- The use of information and communication technology is also an important aspect of the content of this semester. Digital resources such as computers, internet and relevant software will be used to document experiences throughout the semester.

The students must register as members of a net-based classroom, Moodle. All information about the course will be posted here. Resources such as articles, music and schedules will also be made accessible on the Moodle pages. Participation is mandatory.

Exam

The final at the end of International Semester consist of one theoretical exam

Theoretical exam

The students will have one week to write a 10 page term paper based on topics from the curriculum, and from all three units.
Evaluation: Letter grades. (Top mark: A, lowest mark: E)