About this course: The United States has always been a source of fascination — both attraction and repulsion — for the people of France, Mexico, China, and African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan. "America Through Foreign Eyes" is a rich, interdisciplinary, international course that features Rice University faculty from a variety of disciplines and area studies. Focused on perceptions of America abroad, the course is a cross between World Cultures and American Studies. The course features four modules, each covering the perceptions and interactions of particular regions with America, Americans and Americanization.
Created by: Rice University
Taught by: Dr. Anne S. Chao, Lecturer
Rice University
Taught by: Dr. Julie Fette, Associate Professor
Rice University
Taught by: Dr. Jeffrey Fleisher, Associate Professor
Rice University
Taught by: Dr. Moramay López-Alonso, Associate Professor
Rice University
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
The United States has always been a source of fascination— both attraction and repulsion — for the people of France, Mexico, China, and African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan. America Through Foreign Eyes is a rich, interdisciplinary, international course that features Rice faculty from a variety of disciplines and area studies. Focused on perceptions of America abroad, the course is a cross between World Cultures and American Studies. The course features four modules, each covering the perceptions and interactions of particular regions with America, Americans and Americanization.
4 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Course Trailer
- Reading: Welcome Survey (complete before beginning course)
- Reading: How To Complete This Course
- Discussion Prompt: Introduction Discussion #1
- Video: Chapter 1: America through Foreign Eyes: Introduction to Course
- Video: Chapter 2: Perceptions of Other Cultures: Generalizations, Essentialisms, and Stereotypes
- Video: Chapter 3: Student Approaches and Course Material
- Discussion Prompt: Introduction Discussion #2
- Reading: Chapter 1, 2, 3: Further Explorations
- Reading: Introduction Bibliography
Graded: Introduction
America through African Eyes
The United States has always been a source of fascination for Africans. African observers and travelers are rarely indifferent to American culture and people. This module, “America Through African Eyes,” examines historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans, and Americanization through the lens of African writers, politicians, intellectuals, refugees, and local citizens. Taught by Dr. Jeffrey Fleisher, a professor of Archeology, this module will cover the four themes of the course: Democracy and Modernity; Globalization and Capitalism; Racism and Immigration; and Intellectual and Cultural Life.
8 videos, 9 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: Chapter 1: Introduction: America Through African Eyes
- Video: Chapter 2: Africans Appropriating Americans: Elvis and the Chewa of Malawi
- Reading: Chapter 2: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 3: Africans Appropriating Americans: Tupac Shakur in Sierra Leone
- Reading: Chapter 3: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: Africa - Check for Understanding 1
- Video: Chapter 4: Africans in America: America through Enslaved Peoples' Eyes
- Reading: Chapter 4: Selections from the Narratives of Captured Slaves
- Reading: Chapter 4: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 5: Africans in America: Sudanese Refugees in America: Navigating America in the Twentieth Century
- Discussion Prompt: Africa Discussion #1
- Reading: Chapter 5: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 6: Africans in America: Africans and Race in America
- Reading: Chapter 6: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: Africa - Check for Understanding 2
- Video: Chapter 7: African-Americans and Africans in Ghana: Kwame Nkrumah, American Civil Rights, and Ghanaian Independence
- Reading: Chapter 7: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 8: African-Americans and Africans in Ghana: Slave Tourism: How West Africans see African-American Tourists
- Reading: Chapter 8: Further Explorations
- Discussion Prompt: Africa Discussion #2
- Reading: Africa Bibliography
Graded: America through African Eyes
WEEK 2
America Through Chinese Eyes
The United States has always been a source of fascination for the people of China. Chinese observers and travelers are rarely indifferent to American culture and people. This module, “America Through Chinese Eyes,” examines historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans, and Americanization through the lens of Chinese writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, and public opinion. Taught by Dr. Anne Chao, a professor of History, this module will cover the four themes of the course: Democracy and Modernity; Globalization and Capitalism; Racism and Immigration; and Intellectual and Cultural Life.
14 videos, 10 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: Chapter 1: Introduction to the Chinese Cultural System
- Reading: Chapter 1: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 2: First Contact with America and the West
- Reading: Chapter 2: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 3: China's Entry Into the World: Opium, the Unequal Treaties and the Exclusion Act
- Reading: Chapter 3: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: China - Check for Understanding 1
- Video: Chapter 4: From Reform to Revolution
- Reading: Chapter 4: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 5: The New Culture Movement
- Discussion Prompt: China Discussion #1
- Reading: Chapter 5: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 6: Madame Chiang Kaishek: A Study in Chinese and American Interactions in the Republican Era
- Reading: Chapter 6: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: China - Check for Understanding 2
- Video: Chapter 7: America as Enemy and as Friend: The Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution and the Ping-Pong Diplomacy
- Reading: Chapter 7: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 8: China's Re-Entry into the World
- Reading: Chapter 8: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 9: Taiwan and Hong Kong
- Reading: Chapter 9: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 10: Voices from China and Taiwan
- Discussion Prompt: China Discussion #2
- Reading: China Bibliography
- Video: Chen Lei, December 7, 2014, Interviewed by Dr. Anne Chao
- Video: Feng Yu, December 7, 2014, Interviewed by Dr. Anne Chao
- Video: Jorge Liu, August 17, 2014, Interviewed by Dr. Anne Chao
- Video: Li Zhonggui, August 13, 2014, Interviewed by Dr. Anne Chao
Graded: America through Chinese Eyes
WEEK 3
America Through French Eyes
The United States has always been a source of fascination for the people of France. French observers and travelers are rarely indifferent to American culture and people. This module, “America Through French Eyes,” examines historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans, and Americanization through the lens of French writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, and public opinion. Taught by Dr. Julie Fette, a professor of French Studies, this module will cover the four themes of the course: Democracy and Modernity; Globalization and Capitalism; Racism and Immigration; and Intellectual and Cultural Life.
15 videos, 11 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: Chapter 1: France and America: Friend and Foe
- Reading: Chapter 1: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 2: America: Land of Democracy
- Reading: Chapter 2: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 3: America = Modernity
- Reading: Chapter 3: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: France - Check for Understanding 1
- Video: Chapter 4: American Capitalism: Mass Production, Mass Consumption, and Inequality
- Reading: Chapter 4: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 5: Globalization and the Cultural Exception
- Discussion Prompt: France Discussion #1
- Reading: Chapter 5: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 6: Racism and Xenophobia in the United States and France
- Reading: Chapter 6: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: France - Check for Understanding 2
- Video: Chapter 7: Religion and Secularism
- Reading: Chapter 7: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 8: Franco-American Cultural Exchange: Art, Artists, and Art Patrons
- Reading: Chapter 8: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 9: Intellectual Life: The American University
- Video: Chapter 9: Simone de Beauvoir at Rice, by Melissa Kean
- Reading: Chapter 9: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 10: America as Hyperreality
- Reading: Chapter 10: Further Explorations
- Discussion Prompt: France Discussion #2
- Reading: France Bibliography
- Video: Marie Darrieussecq, May 20, 2015, Interviewed by Dr. Julie Fette
- Video: Eric Fassin, May 19, 2015, Interviewed by Dr. Julie Fette
- Video: Fabrice Morel, May 22, 2015, Interviewed by Dr. Julie Fette
- Video: Jean-Loup Chrétien, December 7, 2016, Interviewed by Dr. Julie Fette
Graded: America through French Eyes
WEEK 4
America Through Mexican Eyes
The United States has always been a source of fascination for the people of Mexico. Mexican observers and travelers are rarely indifferent to American culture and people. This module, “ America Through Mexican Eyes,” examines historical and contemporary perceptions of America, Americans, and Americanization through the lens of Mexican writers, artists, politicians, intellectuals, and public opinion. Taught by Dr. Moramay López-Alonso, a professor of History, this module will cover the four themes of the course: Democracy and Modernity; Globalization and Capitalism; Racism and Immigration; and Intellectual and Cultural Life.
10 videos, 11 readings, 2 practice quizzes
- Video: Chapter 1: America through Mexican Eyes: Inseparable Histories
- Reading: Chapter 1: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 2: The Gringo, Yankee, and American
- Reading: Chapter 2: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 3: Immigration
- Reading: Chapter 3: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: Mexico - Check for Understanding 1
- Video: Chapter 4: Racism
- Reading: Chapter 4: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 5: Religion
- Discussion Prompt: Mexico Discussion #1
- Reading: Chapter 5: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 6: Temples of Knowledge: Education, Universities and Libraries
- Reading: Chapter 6: Further Explorations
- Practice Quiz: Mexico - Check for Understanding 2
- Video: Chapter 7: Food
- Reading: Chapter 7: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 8: American Women
- Reading: Chapter 8: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 9: Capitalism and Modernity
- Reading: Chapter 9: Further Explorations
- Video: Chapter 10: Democracy and Empire
- Reading: Chapter 10: Further Explorations
- Discussion Prompt: Mexico Discussion #2
- Reading: Mexico Bibliography
Graded: America through Mexican Eyes
Reversing the Gaze
This course has explored how the United States has been a source of fascination for African, Chinese, French, and Mexican people. What happens when we “reverse the gaze?” This module examines historical and contemporary perceptions of Africa, China, France, and Mexico through American eyes. Join all four instructors for informal conversations over a meal at various Houston restaurants about American perceptions of the world.
6 videos, 1 reading
- Video: Chapter 1: Reversing the Gaze: Africa through American Eyes
- Video: Chapter 2: Reversing the Gaze: China through American Eyes
- Video: Interview with Mr. and Mrs. Fung
- Video: Chapter 3: Reversing the Gaze: France through American Eyes
- Video: Chapter 4: Reversing the Gaze: Mexico through American Eyes
- Discussion Prompt: Reversing the Gaze Discussion #1
- Discussion Prompt: Reversing the Gaze Discussion #2
- Discussion Prompt: Reversing the Gaze Discussion #3
- Video: Rice Students Discuss America Through Foreign Eyes
- Reading: End-of-Course Survey (complete after finishing the course)
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Ratings and Reviews
I loved this class - so much to think about and learning to see ourselves from the outside, rather than just accepting our culture as "normal." I do hope there are more classes on this, looking at other countries' perspective of America.
Thanks to Instructors for this amazing course!
The course offers a lot of interesting and new insights from different regions of the world. It doesn't take as much time per week as it says it will, but definitely requires some real commitment to finish. It isn't really advanced, material-wise, but is a good basic overview of how the different countries have viewed various American cultural elements over time.
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AM
Really great Course!