This week, we will look at the first half of Charles Taylor’s essay “The Politics of Recognition.” Choose one question below and prepare an oral response.

1. What is the importance of recognition in today’s world, according to Taylor? What are the effects of non-recognition or mis-recognition? What social transformation accounts for the development of the politics of recognition?

2. Summarize Taylor’s account of authenticity. If this trend is, as Taylor observes, “part of the massive subjective turn of modern culture,” what role, if any, does he see for others?  How does this notion figure in terms of both personal identity and equal recognition?

3. Compare and contrast what Taylor calls the politics of universalism and the politics of difference. According to Taylor, how does the latter grow out of the former? What do they share? How do they conflict?

In the fall semester, we will begin by looking briefly at some works of short fiction by writers included in Linda Hutcheon and Marion Richmond’s Other Solitudes: Canadian Multicultural Fictions (1990). We will think about some questions related to the idea of representation and representative-ness. We will also discuss the Other Solitudes anthology itself and the literary institution in general as sites of representation.

Based on students’ input on the course proposal, we will begin our assessment of multiculturalism as theory and practice by reviewing Taylor (1994) and selections from Kymlicka (1995) before turning to some of the recent critiques of these two theorists as representatives of the “Canadian school” of multiculturalism.

See the links under “Academic Skills” for downloads of handouts.

In the final part of the course, we will discuss works of art–film and literature–in relation to specific Canadian communities and their histories.

For next week:

Read Himani Bannerji’s essay “The Dark Side of the Nation” and be prepared to address the questions below:

1. How does Bannerji characterize the dominant understanding or construction of Canada?

2. According to Bannerji, what position do “other Canadians” occupy in relation to the dominant construction of Canada? How are they identified?

3. What position should “other Canadians” adopt in relation to Canada and its policy of multiculturalism?

As preparation for the talk by filmmaker Linda Ohama in our class on July 13th,  we will continue to discuss the situation of the Japanese Canadians.

In class, we will view and discuss the film below:

Minoru: Memory of Exile (1992, dir. Michael Fukushima)

Begin preparation for your second presentation on Canada and Quebec.

See “Presentation 2″ under the link above “Assignments” for details.

Read the chapter “Quebec’s Destiny” from James and Kasoff.

What myths about Quebec do the authors seek to challenge? Discuss some of the arguments made against these myths.

The following background article from the Canadian Encyclopedia will be helpful:

Anglophone-Francophone Relations

As well as this reading from Quebec History:

“Gerard Bouchard, the ideology of survivance and its corollaries”

Prepare a short presentation (7-10 minutes) on the contemporary Aboriginal topic that you have chosen from Reed.

Do any additional research you feel is necessary to make your presentation current.

Prepare a handout or a set of Power Point slides.

Read the chapter entitled “Native Peoples” from James and Kasoff’s Canadian Studies in the New Millennium (2008) and prepare to discuss one cultural, historical or political question regarding Canada’s aboriginal people.

Choose one of the following readings and prepare to summarize the contents and answer the indicated question:

1. Ch. 18 “Economic Change,” Q2
2. Ch. 19 “Relocation from Traditional Lands,” Q2
3. Ch. 20 “New Political Organizations,” Q2
4. Ch. 21 “Developments in the North,” Q1
5. Ch. 22 “The Political Front,” Q2

Video: “A Changing Face”

At the beginning of class, we will watch a short clip entitled “A Changing Face” from the documentary series Canada: A People’s History (aired 2000–1) <http://history.cbc.ca/>. Consider question 3 on the handout: “What can reasonably be expected of immigrants in regards to adaptation and integration to a new society? What should receiving countries do to accommodate immigrants? Are there limits to accommodation? Explain.”

Also, choose one of the readings and prepare to summarize the content and discuss the assigned question.

1. “Contact to Confederation”: Do Q1, page 37.

2. “The Numbered Treaties”: Do Q1, page 39.

3. “Resistance on the Prairies”: Do Q2, page 43.

4. “The Indian Act”: Do Q1, page 45.

5. “Banning Traditional Practices”: Do Q2, page 47.

6. “Residential Schools”: Do Q2, page 49.

Welcome to the course homepage for Multiculturalism in Canada, Spring Semester 2009.

Here is the reading and discussion homework for next week’s class.

Read the excerpt from Charles Taylor’s essay “The Politics of Recognition” and prepare to answer these questions:

1. What are some of the ill-effects of non-recognition or misrecognition?

2. What changes, according to Taylor, have lead to the modern importance of identity and recognition?

3. Explain what Taylor means by the “politics of universal dignity” and the “politics of difference.”

Our next class meeting will be on November 10th.

Please read the introduction to Selling Diversity and prepare to discuss the contents of chapter 1, especially the aim and method of the book outlined in the chapter.

Also, look over some of the links on writing critical review essays and be prepared to discuss your approach to Abu-Laban and Gabriel’s book.