Culture and Society in the 19th century Bengal 3600-KSB-OW
The aim of the course is to familiarize the student with the culture and society of nineteenth-century Calcutta.
Topics:
1. Introduction to the history of Bengal.
2. Cultural and political centers in Bengal until the nineteenth century.
3. Kolkata versus Dhaka.
4. The development of printing and great changes in Bengali literature.
5. The emergence of contemporary literature.
6. Culture of the newly born class - bhadralok.
7. Education, or who could learn to read and write in Calcutta.
8. The situation of women.
9. Great social reformers.
10. Three Generations of the Tagore Family.
11. Crime in the colonial city or the story of a murder.
12. Religions and Bengali spirituality, or whom the Bengalis worshipped.
13. Prostitution, theater and music - on some forms of entertainment of the residents of Kolkata.
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
K_W01
has in-depth and detailed knowledge (including terminology, theory and methodology) in literary studies or linguistic studies or culture and religion studies, philosophy or history
K_W02
has extended knowledge of particular problems pertaining to the cultures of the Orient/Africa (within the scope of culture and literature or language or philosophy and religion or history and socio-political issues) in a comparative perspective
K_W03
has extended knowledge of particular problems pertaining to the culture of South Asia (within the scope of culture and literature or language or philosophy and religion or history and socio-political issues)
K_W06
knows and understands advanced analysis and interpretation methods of various products of the culture of South Asia, characteristic of chosen traditions, theories, research schools within the scope of linguistics or literary studies, culture and religion studies, philosophy or history
K_W07
knows and understands the local academic tradition (methods of analysis, interpretation and evaluation) in the context of South Asia
K_W10
has wide and profound knowledge of the structures and social relations as well as socio-cultural behaviours of South Asia in the scope conditioning professional social and intercultural verbal communication
K_U01
can search for, analyze, evaluate and use information from different sources and can form a critical judgement on its basis
K_U02
can indicate sources of cultural differences between the countries of the Orient/Africa, also on the basis of source materials
K_U03
can acquire knowledge independently and enhance research skills as well as develop abilities to build a professional career
K_U06
can use the terminology from the domain of philosophy and religion of South Asia to analyze and interpret religious phenomena, ethical motives and human behaviours, as well as cultural differences
K_U07
can detect the relationship between the development of philosophical and religious ideas of South Asia and social, cultural and economic processes
K_U08
can read, analyze and interpret advanced literary texts and other works of culture (film, press, social writing) of South Asia and appropriately place them in their cultural context
K_U09
can compare and thoroughly analyze interrelations between chosen literary texts and other works of culture (film, press, social writing) of South Asia and the issues within the scope of tradition and modern times
K_U10
can carry out a critical analysis and interpretation of different products of the culture of South Asia in a way which is appropriate to a chosen tradition, theory and research school within the scope of linguistics, literary studies, culture and religion studies, philosophy or history, employing unique approaches that take into account the knowledge in the field of Oriental studies
K_U11
can analyze the most important phenomena in the area of history, socio-political, linguistic or cultural situation of South Asia
K_K05
is open to new ideas and trends as well as cultural diversity
K_K06
has awareness of the differences stemming from the cultural, religious and philosophical variety and their influence on shaping social and political attitudes as well as economic processes
K_K07
understands responsibility and ethical issues that come with imparting knowledge of South Asia
K_K08
understands and appreciates the value of tradition and cultural heritage of one’s own country and of South Asia
K_K09
can see the need to enrich own tradition by adding positive philosophical, social and cultural values of South Asia, treats cultural synergy as an added value
Assessment criteria
Oral exam
Bibliography
A. Barua, The Brahmo Samaj and Its Vaiṣṇava Milieus.
Brian A. Hatcher, Bourgeois Hinduism, or the Faith of the Modern Vedantists.
S. Bandyopadhyay, Caste, Culture and Hegemony. Social Dominance in Colonial Bengal.
T. Bhattacharya, The Sentinels of Culture.
S. Sen, The History of Bengali Literature.
S. Sarkar, On the Bengal Renaissance.
R. Sen, Birth of a Colonial City: Calcutta.
S. Chaudhuri, Calcutta, The Living City, t. 1 i 2.
S. Banerjee, The Wicked City: Crime and Punishment in Colonial Calcutta
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: