Welcome to the vibrant world of Latvia! In this course, you'll dive into the heart of Latvian culture, where nature is cherished, and traditions run deep.
Class meets in-person Tuesday and Thursday, 12:30-14:20
CMU 226
This course will be your passport to understanding Latvia from A to Z. We'll delve into its rich history, literature, and traditional culture, exploring everything from ancient mythology to modern-day portrayals in art forms like literature, cinema, and music.
Together, we'll examine the experiences, beliefs, and attitudes that shape Latvian identity, delving into topics such as paganism, national identity formation, multiculturalism, language rights, and the lingering legacy of Soviet influence. By the end of our journey, you'll not only understand what it means to be Latvian at the individual, state, and global levels but also how it relates to your own cultural experiences. So, let's embark on this adventure together and uncover the essence of Latvian-ness!
Evaluation and Grading
All assignments are graded on a 100-point scale. The course has neither a midterm nor a final exam, as active learning is expected on a regular basis. Thus, the final grade is based on 4 components:
Home assignments and online quizzes– 25 points
Participation in classroom activities – 25 points
Essay – 25 points
Presentation – 25 points
Learning materials
All learning materials (reading texts, movies, songs, videos, posters, and PP presentations) will be regularly uploaded on the course Canvas page in the sections Modules and Files in advance or given in the class. You are not asked to purchase any learning materials for the course, but it is your responsibility to have them in our classes.
Course Policies
Religious Accommodations
- Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/).
- Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).
Fair Use Disclaimer
This course and the content made available within Canvas is solely provided for educational purposes to learners enrolled at the University of Washington.
This course may contain copyrighted material owned by a third party, for which permission has not been sought from the authorized copyright owner. Notwithstanding the copyright owner's rights under the Copyright Act, Section 107 of the Copyright Act allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders, for purposes including: education, criticism, comment, teaching, scholarship and research. These so-called "fair uses are permitted even if the use of the work would otherwise be infringing.
The content in this course is presented for the sole purpose of educating students registered in this course. Attempts to download digital content for use outside this password protected educational platform are prohibited.
If you believe that any content in this course violates your intellectual property or other rights, please contact the instructor.