ʻATENISI INSTITUTE
An institute for critical education in the South Pacific
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ʻOtuhaka (2009)
HUMANITIES
HST 208 – History of China
Ancient/Medieval The initial survey focuses on the Qin, Han, Jin, Sui, Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, with Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism alternately providing ethical grounding. Special attention is paid to varying influence over Vietnam and Korea; leverage of Silk Road and canal infrastructure; and development of porcelain, paper, printing, currency, compass, seismometer, hydraulic, and gunpowder technology.
Modern The survey concludes with study of the transition from the Ming dynasty to the Kuomintang and People’s Republic. Particular emphasis is given to the Boxer Rebellion, the abiding influence of Sun Yat-Sen, and the metamorphosis in the PRC from Maoist Marxism to state capitalism.
LING 290 – Linguistic Sovereignty: A Case Study
A study of the corruption of indigenous Polynesian language in Tonga by both Anglophone and Francophone missionaries from the mid-19th century. The course sources the distortion in chauvinist attitudes of 19th century European linguists championing the “logic” of European language. Particular attention is paid the “definitive” Tongan-English dictionary, compiled by C. Maxwell Churchward in the 1950s.
HUM 253 – Ancient Greek Mythology
The course initially examines the agenda of the major deities, including Zeus, Nemesis, Hermes, Apollo, Asclepius, Dionysus, Poseidon, Ares, and Themis. It concludes with a summary of the legends of Narcissus, Echo, Orpheus, and Sisyphus.
SOCIAL SCIENCE
ECON 202 – Economic Thought and Practice
Thought The economic perspective of ancient Greece (via Aristotle) and medieval Islam (via Ibn Khaldun) frames the ensuing West European debate between mercantilism, physiocracy, and the basic capitalism proposed by Adam Smith and David Ricardo. The course next considers the abuses of capitalism and catalysis of the Marxian critique.
Practice The second component initially addresses market dynamics (e.g.: supply, demand) and regulation (e.g.: free, command), and consumer variables (e.g.: elasticity, utility, taste, budget, trade-offs). It next focuses on production issues (e.g.: physical capital, costs, cash flow, profit).
POL ST. 250 – Diplomatic Communication
A concise history of diplomacy, ministries of foreign affairs, and foreign embassies, focusing on the missions of war and treaty, enforcement of international law and human rights, environmental regulation, commercial agreements, and both the procurement and donation of foreign assistance. The course next focuses on effective negotiation strategies for key political cultures in today’s world, including European, North American, South African, South Asian, and Pacific democracies; East Asian democracies; Latin American social democracies; authoritarian and democratic Islamic cultures; and authoritarian Russian and Chinese politics.
NATURAL SCIENCE
PHYS 470 – Manned Interstellar Travel
(Like many other universities around the world, ʻAtenisi benefits from the international outreach service of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration in the U.S.) An exoplanet of Proxima Centauri was identified as potentially habitable in 2018. As an exercise in “blue sky” hypothesis generation, the course seeks to determine which technologies (e.g., propulsion, spacecraft composition, crew durability) might in the distant future support a manned voyage to a destination over four light years away.
CREATIVE ARTS
T.A. 318 – Role Preparation
An advanced workshop addressing theatrical role preparation, covering research, concentration/relaxation duality, sense memory, and emotional recall.