Space and Place: Geographies of the Black Atlantic

Is the map on an iPhone representative of the space beneath our feet? Does a 'map' have to represent geographic space or can it represent something else? For centuries people have sought to make sense of the geographies of their everyday lives as well as environments out of their purview. In this course, we will engage with a number of approaches to space and place including historical, cultural, ethnographic, literary, geographic, and artistic, focusing on African diasporas and the Black Atlantic. Students will analyze texts, artworks, and web-based projects, and at the end of the course, create their own maps. Enrollment limited to 20 juniors, seniors, and graduate students.