The history of our curriculum, curriculum timeline

1. Eurocentrism
Hayley Thompson

2. Social Science is the
FISH and Eurocentrism
is the WATER

3.  What is Eurocentrism and where did it come from?
 How is it discussed in theory?
 Why does Eurocentrism matter?
 How do we move forward?
An Explication of Eurocentrism

4. What is Eurocentrism?
 “a tendency to interpret the
world in terms of Anglo-
American values and
experiences” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015).
 Anglo-American refers to
descendants and ideologies
developed from the imperial
control of the British Empire
Two Forms
 Eurocentric Aesthetics
 Eurocentric Ideology

5. Eurocentric, Afrocentric, Asiacentric

6. What is Eurocentrism?
 “reflecting a tendency to
interpret the world in terms of
Anglo-American values and
experiences” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2015).
 Anglo-American refers to
descendants and ideologies
developed from the imperial
control of the British Empire
Two Forms
 Eurocentric Aesthetics
 Eurocentric Ideology

7. A line of thinking that reinforces
the elite, progressive, and noble
achievements of the west while
patronizing or even demonizing
the Non-West.

8. Where did it come from?
Historical
 Imperialism
 Light Skinned vs Dark Skinned
Slaves
Academic
 Developed by the west
 Ignored or not considered until
recently

9. discussed in theory?
How is Eurocentrism

10.  Grand Communication Theory
 Feminist Theory
Types of Theory

11.  Communication theory is a grand theory that
encompasses the methods and processes in which
information is conveyed in order to describe all
aspects of the phenomenon (Baran & Davis, 2014, pg. 5).
 Developed in Western society and is inherently
limited by a Eurocentric bias
 Not equipped to discuss a global context
Communication Theory and
Discourse

12. Criticisms of Communication
 Bias toward American
Academia
 Limits new perspectives
 Eurocentric Values
 Individualistic emphasis
 Speaking over listening
 Self-centered and goal
oriented

13. Western scholarship is viewed
as UNIVERSAL
Why does that matter?

14.  Middle Class White Women
 Critical Feminist perspective is concerned with texts
that reflect, support, or create sexist or patriarchal
messages
 Doesn’t translate across cultures
Feminist Theory

15. UNIVERSALISM.
How does that affect communication?

16.  Social Comparative Theory
 Minority representations are biased toward
Eurocentrism
 Most don’t naturally look like that
Why does Eurocentrism Matter?

17. So successful, powerful,
beautiful, amazing, in charge,
and EUROCENTRIC
Olivia Pope

18. Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Skin Bleaching Plastic Surgery

19.  Not parsimonious--- “values” can encompass a broad
array of things
 Need to develop a model and to explain Eurocentrism
in media
 All theories should be assessed for these values
How to move forward?

20. UNIVERSALISM
Most importantly!
Not just internationally, but domestically
for subcultures.

21. We can see the invisible
and feel the water
Eurocentrism