Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The course is asynchronous, so there are no days that you're required to "show up." Students are expected to engage with weekly content and complete assignments according to a schedule.

I am extremely thrilled to be teaching this course. The term will be packed full of community-building, big-fat words, awe-inspiring concepts, ruthless characters, soul-searching, passionate stories, applied research, and an awakening within you of a sincere respect for the varied ways in which other people live their lives and collectively share this thing we call culture.

We'll do some deep learning around how our performances and understanding of intimacy, power, authority, communication, resource exploitation and use, kinship, spirituality, and so much more are not universal but instead reflections of our culture. We'll learn about how we've inherited, learned, and shared cultural knowledge mostly without an awareness of doing so. We'll learn how some cultures have always believed they are superior to others and the terrific harm that's caused for generations. We'll learn how culture is responsible for how we see gender, race, ethnicity, skin color, first language, immigration status, economic station, and ability, and how cultural systems and institutions are designed to order people accordingly. And, we'll learn how cultures evolve, to create something different - perhaps something that's better for more people. 

You are not alone on this journey...you and your peers will create and protect a space that is (mostly) free from the conventional burdens of dominant society. It will be safe, respectful, brave, innovative, and smart. Please make an effort to develop relationships with your peers - I know this can be very challenging in OL classes but you'll have access to one another's email addresses and Discussion spaces. 

In addition to the OER listed above, other readings will be used throughout the term to complete a few assignments (but are not listed here; please contact me directly if you need early access for DS accommodations). They are also open access.

All students enrolled ATH 103 are required to maintain computer internet/email accounts. Students will be expected to operate Web browsing software, windows based software packages, and Google Drive programs. You will need:

• Electronic device (PC, Smart Phone, Laptop, etc.) 
• Reliable Internet/Web Access

If you do not have regular access to WIFI or a personal computer or smart device, contact the college and they will help you with this!