Colorado College Asian Studies

199 Islam. A historical and thematic introduction to Islam that focuses on texts, doctrines, practices, institutions, and artistic expressions. Topics will include the life and times of Prophet Muhammad; Islam's foundational scripture, the Qur'an; the two major sectarian movements of Islam - Sunni and Shi'a; the mystical quest of the Sufis; and regional variation of Muslim faith and practice. (Also listed as Religion 201.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit - Coleman

203 Buddhism. An introduction to the life and times of the Buddha, his basic teachings, and central monastic and lay practices. Emphases include key elements in the development of Buddhist philosophy, the purposes and styles of meditation, and theory and practice in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism. (Also listed as Religion 203.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit - Gardiner

204 Hinduism. An introduction to the Hindu religious tradition. Topics will include the scripture, myths, beliefs, and rituals of Hinduism from Vedic times to the present, with emphasis on appreciating the variety of religious systems, symbols, and practices through the study of sacred texts, social structures, and rites of worship. Attention also to the presence and influence of Hinduism in the West. (Also listed as Religion 204.) (Meets the Alternative Perspectives: B requirement.) 1 unit - Coleman

208 Yoga. This course introduces the student to the movements and techniques of Yoga. (Also listed as Dance 209.) 1/4 unit - Berg

220 Philosophies of India. The development of Indian philosophy from its roots in the Vedic tradition of Hinduism. Attention will be focused on the metaphysical, ethical, and epistemological systems that grew out of the Hindu scriptures and the challenges to Hinduism posed by Buddhism and philosophical materialism. Prerequisite: one course in Philosophy or consent of instructor. (Also listed as Philosophy 220.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Not offered 2001-02.) 1 unit - Lee

223 From Bombay to Bollywood: Music and the Popular Indian Film. Since the 1930s, the presence of the film song sequence has been a hallmark of Indian popular cinema, to the extent that film song sequences and songs often play an important role in helping promote the films they appear in. This course examines how film music has helped define Bombay cinema as the global industry now known as "Bollywood", as well as how film song sequences work within and outside films' narratives to create a unique aesthetic. Although international audiences have enjoyed Bombay films and film music since the 1950s, the term "Bollywood" did not emerge until the late 1980s. Since then, it has often accompanied descriptions of Bombay films' transformation from a regional industry into a multimedia global brand- experienced through cinema; the Internet; satellite television; music and video recordings; radio; and ring tones, almost all of which feature music at their core. This viewing-intensive course surveys older as well as recent popular Bombay films and explores their film songs' stylistic conventions, context within films, and their life outside the cinema hall. In doing so, students trace the shift from Bombay to "Bollywood" as well as gain a fundamental understanding of South Asian popular culture. (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Also listed as Anthropology 222 and Music 233.) 1 unit — Bhattacharjya.

233 Women, Religion, and Society: Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. An exploration of constructions of gender and the status of women in Hindu, Islamic, and Buddhist cultures, with attention to both texts and practices. Readings survey a variety of topics, including marriage, sexuality, sati, Islamic law, devotion, renunciation, and tanta. (Also listed as Women's Studies 233 and Religion 233.) 1 unit - Coleman

250 Popular Music from South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. This course explores popular music from South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa - as well from these regions' diasporic populations in the United States and Europe. Throughout the course, we consider how technology, mass media, and migration have over the last century shaped and still shape communities' respective cultural identities, particularly in the contemporary context of globalization. (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) (Also listed as Anthropology 222 and Music 232.)1 unit - Bhattacharjya

290 Studying Asia. An interdisciplinary study of cultures, peoples, and historical experience of several societies of Asia (South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia) through comparative case studies and theoretical readings. Students will analyze a variety of primary and secondary sources in English translation and learn techniques for interpreting cultures very different from our own. (This seminar is required of Asian Studies majors and must be completed before beginning Senior Thesis blocks.) Prerequisite: one Asian Studies course. 1 unit - Program

350 Advanced Topics in Asian Studies. Study of a selected topic in one or more Asian societies and cultures. The course will cover subjects not listed in the regular curriculum and may vary from year to year. (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit - Asian Studies Program Faculty or Visiting Faculty

361 Topics in South Asian Religions: Poetic Devotion: Singing the Praises of God. A study of various devotional movements from classical and medieval periods, focusing mainly on Hindu bhakti, with some attention to Islamic mysticism as well. Readings include poems by both men and women who celebrate their love for Krishna, Siva, Allah, and the Great Goddesses. Prerequisite: 204 or consent of instructor. (Also listed as Religion 361.) 1 unit - Coleman

370 Systems of Buddhist Thought and Practice. The topic for this course will vary from year to year. The subject matter will draw from areas such as schools of Buddhist philosophy, traditions of meditation, and the writings of renowned Buddhist authors. Prerequisite: Religion 203. (Also listed as Religion 370.) (Meets the Critical Perspectives: Diverse Cultures and Critiques requirement.) 1 unit - Gardiner

400 Thesis. Thesis subject chosen by student and approved by the program prior to the beginning of the course. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. 1 unit each - Asian Studies Faculty