ETHN 156A. Power, Culture, and Buddhism in the US (4 units)
Link to catalog page: https://catalog.ucsd.edu/courses/ETHN.html#ethn156a
Description
This course examines how power and culture shape perceptions and practices of Buddhism. It explores how capitalism, racial hierarchies, and militarism influence Western interpretations of Buddhist practices, often disconnecting them from spiritual and cultural roots. Students will analyze media, popular culture, and institutions to critically assess how Buddhism is commodified, racialized, and depoliticized, and the implications for how Buddhism reinforces or combats social problems.
Prerequisite courses
ETHN 156A has no prerequisite courses.
Successor courses
No courses have ETHN 156A as a prerequisite.