Fall 2010 Voyage Theme

National Identity in a Globalized World

How do nations envision themselves (their values, their history, their destinies) and how do they project that vision beyond the borders of their own geography? As a corollary, how are those very same nations perceived by others? How do they "sell" themselves in the global marketplace? What images do they project -intentionally or not- to others through the cultural artifacts they produce, the history they remember and teach, the music they write, or the artistic endeavors in which they engage? Are cultures invented? Are they artifacts to be consumed by tourists, or are they authentic representations of the achievements and aspirations of national groups? What vision does the US project abroad (and how to others perceive that vision)? We will look at these questions through the perspective of history, politics, business, anthropology, the law, the arts, museum studies, tourism, film, literature, music, business, and the economy in order to "see" both the intended ("canned" or "manipulated") projection and what the rest of the world actually perceives. We expect that our voyagers will, through classroom work and in-country travels, reflect on these questions as they experience first-hand the cultures they will be studying.

Fall 2010 Common Reading Experience

An excerpt from a letter from the Fall 2010 Administrative Team to the voyage community:

One of the activities we propose for our voyage is a short common reading, a book which we will discuss the very first night we are on the ship (August 27). As we sail off from Halifax together, open to the extraordinary adventure and challenges that await us, we would like to assemble in small groups to talk about Jamaica Kincaid's lovely and provocative short book (81pages) called A Small Place.

It's about the Caribbean island of Antigua. We're not going to Antigua! Yet as she returns home to her native island and meditates on what it means to be a tourist —and to receive tourists in one's homeland — she brings up issues that we will confront on our trip around the world. The theme of our voyage is "National Identity in a Globalized World" and we think that Kincaid's book will provoke us to think more deeply about our place as tourists/visitors/voyagers in the countries we will visit.

It is a provocative book. You will be engaged, challenged, puzzled, perhaps even angered or frustrated with her observations, but that is exactly the point — to move you to engage intellectually with what we are about to see and do.

So, please read it. (Everyone will be assigned to a group, so you will do well to be prepared). The book is available at Amazon.com (and many other places) for as little as $2.34. We look forward to hearing your views as we sail off from our own "small place" to the large world that awaits us.

And don't forget: Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be sailing with us; you might be interested in reading one of his amazing books (Made for Goodness, The Rainbow People of God, God Has a Dream, etc.). (He'll probably sign them, too!).

Sincerely,

David T. Gies ("Dean David"), Academic Dean
Sue Weitz, Executive Dean
Jeremy Stringer, Dean of Students
Kathy Poole, Assistant Executive Dean
Adam Seid, Assistant Academic Dean/Registrar