COM 370 Communication, Culture and Sustainability in India Summer Session Ananda Mitra

COM 370 Communication, Culture and Sustainability in India Indian cultural practices have developed into a hybridized format with elements that sustain some of the traditional components of Indian culture that have been synthesized with global cultural trends. Sustainability in cultural practices is an important emerging issue in understanding global trends. This course examines the issues of sustainability of the cultural ecology of a specific ancient cultural system. The course would examine the ways in which fundamental aspects of culture, for instance language, is being sustained in India where new language forms are emerging as the local languages are being transformed by the influence of English. The course would examine different cultural indicators made up of everyday material practices including media practices and technological adaptations that demonstrate how the people of India are creating a unique set of practices that sustain the traditional/local while adopting the modern/global trends.

COM 370 Communication, Culture and Sustainability in India The course will examine the ways in which the hybridized sustainable practices are influencing the modes of intercultural communication as people of Indian origin take on central roles in the global arena. The course would focus on specific practices such as the emergence of a global movie industry (Bollywood) that sustains the traditional Indian cultural elements like those of classical Indian music while combining that with emergent global musical forms. The intercultural component would also focus on issues surrounding interpersonal contact between people from India, like call center workers, and a global clientele.

Where will we go? The course will be taught in three different locations in India: Calcutta the old capital of India on the Eastern part of India Leh in the Himalayan mountains Delhi the new capital of India in the Northern part of India

Calcutta (Kolkata)

Calcutta 2-weeks We will spend the time in Calcutta studying: – Indian Colonial history – The influence of the Eastern cultures – The academic culture of India – The information technology revolution

Calcutta

Calcutta to Leh After 2 weeks in Calcutta we go to the mountain region of Ladakh and Leh

Leh

Leh and Ladakh 1-week We will spend the time in Leh studying: – The culture of the mountains of the Himalayas – The influence of the Budhist traditions – Understanding the way in which the culture of science culture of nature interact

Leh to Delhi After 1 week in Leh we go to capital of India - Delhi

Delhi 2-weeks We will spend the time in Delhi studying: – The culture of the northern part of India – The influence of the Muslim traditions – Understanding the way in which independent India is playing a role in global culture

Delhi

Excursion – Agra and Taj Mahal We will do a day trip from Delhi to Agra to see the Islamic Architecture and Culture

Excursion – Jaipur in Rajasthan We will do a day trip from Delhi to Agra to see the Rajasthani Hindu Architecture and Culture

Apartment Stay We will be staying in Apartments in Calcutta and Delhi and a hotel in Leh

Apartment Stay Each Apartment will offer a personal room with a bathroom and shower

Other activities Shopping Sports Theater and Movies Immersion in a different culture