First-Year Interest Groups (FIGs) are clusters of (usually) three UW courses, linked together to explore a common theme, and offered to incoming freshmen who attend these classes together as a cohort.
A First-Year Interest Group (FIG) is a kind of academic learning community designed specifically for first year students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Each FIG is a unique cluster of UW courses, linked together to explore a common theme or topic. All FIGs are based on a small seminar and most FIG seminars are connected to two other courses. Most FIGs are limited to only 20 students, and all of the students in each FIG enroll in all of the courses in the set—this forms the basis of their “cohort” or “interest group.”
Fall 2020 Asian Studies FIG options:
FIG 11: East Asian Food Cultures: Past and Present
This FIG is an exploration of some of the diverse foods and foodways of East Asia region. In the main seminar, History 200: East Asian Food Cultures, we will use food as a lens for understanding the modern cultures and societies of Korea, China, Japan, and other Asian countries. We will delve into questions such as: How have East Asian foods changed in concert with key processes of global history from the 19th century to today? What meanings do people attach to foods, and what do these meanings reveal? How can food be a source of social unity—or of social division? To answer these and other questions, we will explore a range of topics as they connect to the eating, making, and the representation of foods, including:
- the effects of capitalism and imperialism on the industrialization of food production and new forms of social stratification;
- revolutions, decolonization, and nation building, especially in China and the two Koreas;
- the construction of national dishes and cuisines, such as ramen and kimchi;
- diaspora and cultural hybridization; and
- globalization and social media
Students will be encouraged to actively engage with these questions through discussions, readings, films, and a range of web-based sources. If conditions permit, activities will include visits to a local Asian restaurant and an Asian grocery, and preparing and sampling dishes in the Food Application Laboratory in Babcock Hall. The other courses in the FIG will add to our experience by deepening our understanding of East Asia and the role culture plays in shaping social organization and meaning more broadly.
Asian Languages and Cultures 100: “Revolutionary Asia”
Anthropology 104: “Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity”
FIG 12: Arts of Persuasion: Philosophy, Politics, and Poetry in South Asia
How can words change the world? How does art relate to culture and politics? How do poetry, drama, and other arts transform our wider ways of living with others and being in the world? The main seminar in this FIG will explore the ways that literature and other arts have contributed to religious, political, and ethical life in South Asia from ancient times to the present day. In the class we’ll look at sources (translated or originally in English) ranging from the poetry of Buddhist nuns to royal inscriptions, plays by philosophers, the songs of saints, and the writings of modern revolutionaries and reactionaries. We’ll consider not just the ethical and political perspectives presented in these creations but also the ways that various genres of art are thought to bring those perspectives to life. The other classes in the FIG will add to our exploration of these topics.
Asian Languages and Cultures 100: “Revolutionary Asia”
Political Science 140: “Introduction to International Relations”
FIG 30: The History of Yoga
The word yoga is now commonly associated with postures and physical exercise. Originally it referred to diverse ascetic and meditative practices aiming at release from the cycle of rebirth.
The main class in this FIG, Languages & Cultures of Asia 300: “Yoga: Ancient Philosophy and Modern Practice,” traces the history and development of yoga practices in the Hindu traditions of India from early to modern times. We will also examine the adaptation of these practices in the West and survey styles of practice from Hot Yoga to Aerial Yoga. The class will include workshops on academic writing, co-taught with instructors from the UW Writing Center, and hands-on instructional sessions in Memorial Library focusing on the effective use of library resources, including academic databases, and research strategies. Thus the class will provide skills that will be useful for future coursework at UW–Madison.
Anthropology 104: “Cultural Anthropology and Human Diversity”
Philosophy 101: “Introduction to Philosophy”
Learn more about the FIGs: https://www.figs.wisc.edu/