Understanding World Cultures

Osher Course
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh

John Hooker, Study leader

3:00 – 4:30 pm
6 Tuesdays, 12 Jan – 16 Feb 2021

Course description Study leader bio

Course objectives

Tentative Schedule

Click on the links to view or download slides (as pdf files) used in class.
Slides are provided 1 per page and 6 per page.

	Slides	Topic
Week 1	1 per page 6 per page	Introduction to the course. An intellectual framework for understanding world cultures.
Week 2	Germany 1 per page Germany 6 per page Denmark 1 per page Denmark 6 per page UK 1 per page UK 6 per page	Begin a world tour of world cultures that starts with Western countries, moves into culturally more distance countries, and eventually cycles back to the West (USA). In-depth look at Germany, Denmark, UK
Week 3	China 1 per page China 6 per page	Moving from Europe to Asia.   In-depth look at China
Week 4	India 1 per page India 6 per page Turkey 1 per page Turkey 6 per page Gulf states 1 per page Gulf states 6 per page	Visit India, then move to Middle Eastern and Islamic countries.
Week 5	Zimbabwe 1 per page Zimbabwe 6 per page Mexico 1 per page Mexico 6 per page	On to Africa: in-depth look at Zimbabwe, the most culturally distant destination in the course. Move back toward Western culture. Visit Mexico.
Week 6	Brazil 1 per page Brazil 6 per page USA 1 per page USA 6 per page	Visit Brazil. Finish in USA, see it with new eyes. Global perspective on ethnic and racial conflict.