Courses about Bollywood and dances of India will be among the new course offerings at Arizona State University designed to help bridge cultures.
The classes are part of the Asian Pacific American Studies program founded more than 25 years ago to promote understanding of other cultures including those of South Asia.
Other new courses next year will focus on the contemporary art of India as well as its diverse religions.
“We look forward to the growth and development of the program as they continue to reach more communities,” dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Patrick Kennel said to ASU News.
The school’s new courses shine a light on South Asian culture.
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“I feel that any method to make people aware of any nation is a big step towards inclusivity and diversity, which is ASU’s mission, said Rinku Das, incoming professor of Dances of India and owner of Nrityajyoti Dance Academy. “By doing that, the students will come closer to each other, and they will make an effort to understand each other’s culture.”
According to The State Press, Das will focus on Kathak. This dance form is native to northern India, which Das says is a blend of Hindu and Muslim cultures.
“I’m trying to show how these dance forms are transforming from mythological stories to becoming more contemporary and addressing modern issues,” Das said.
The new instructors are eager to begin teaching, like Nilanjana Bhattacharjya the professor of Bollywood Nation.
Bhattacharjya’s course expose students to different Bollywood films and their depictions within the media.
“It’s an interesting thing to think about what makes a movie Indian,” Bhattacharjya said. “Is it just that they speak Hindi? How much English do they speak before it’s not a Hindi movie anymore? What is a Bollywood Movie?”
The school hopes that the additions will broaden representation and help them reach their goal of a culturally rich campus.
“Any representation brings about new knowledge and brings a new way of thinking,” Das said. “Ot changes the perception of the students and they become more understanding because after all, we are one global family.”
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