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ANT 2410
Cultural Anthropology FALL 2008 |
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USF St. Pete Anthropology Program http://www.stpete.usf.edu/coas/anthropology/Index.htm |
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COURSE OUTLINE
Cultural Anthropology is the comparative study of human behavior and
societal organization. Our perspectives will be worldwide, taking advantage of
the data provided by ethnographies of vastly different societies. A focus of
the course will be the concept of culture which will serve as a paradigm to help
explain the potential and limits of human social adaptation. In doing this it
is hoped to reduce the ethnocentrism that we all possess and allow us to view
our own culture in a true cross-cultural perspective. We will apply this
perspective not only to the analysis of unusual ritual in exotic lands but also
to the understanding of such things as our "tribe on the hill" (in Washington,
D.C.) or homelessness in the United States. During the term we will try to make
sense out of the amazing spectrum of cultural variation through readings, class
discussion/interactive projects, slides and documentary films. Class discussion
of this material will be an important part of your learning experience and I
encourage you to intelligently challenge materials presented in the readings and
in class.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: 1. IN THE TEXT Humanity: An Introduction to
Cultural Anthropology, PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SECTIONS: CONCEPT
REVIEW; A CLOSER LOOK AND
GLOBALIZATION INCLUDED IN MOST CHAPTERS; 2. IN THE SPRADLEY AND MCCURDY
READER YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS TO EACH OF THE
SECTIONS;
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken - DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF SPECIAL CLASS PRESENTATIONS IT WILL BE VERY UNLIKELY FOR A STUDENT TO GET A GOOD GRADE IF MORE THAN A FEW CLASSES ARE MISSED. DO NOT PLAN ON GETTING MORE THAN AN A-, IF YOU MISS MORE 4 OR MORE CLASSES. IF YOU MISS 6 CLASSES DO NOT COUNT ON GETTING A GRADE HIGHER THAN B-.
During a majority of classes there will be audio-visual presentations describing cultural patterns throughout the world. You will be expected to take detailed notes on these presentations and can expect questions based on these materials to be on your exams. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will do well on exams if you miss many classes.
S/U grading policy: College policy states that the S/U option must be agreed to by the student and instructor during the first three weeks of the semester.
Incomplete grades: may be granted when, due to circumstances beyond the control of the student, only a small portion of the required work remains undone and the student is otherwise passing the course.
Drop date: November 1, 2008
Note taking/taping of class lectures – students are allowed to tape the class. BUT: you cannot sell this to anyone else. Doing so will fail you out of class.
Laptop and Cell phone Policy: Before you sit down in class please turn off cell phones, put away laptops, IPODS or other electronic devices. The only exception for laptop use is for documented disabilities – see me if you have concerns about this.
Religious observance absence policy. Suggested policy is as follows: Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing, by the second class meeting.
Disability Policy: Any student with a disability should be encouraged to meet with the instructor privately during the first week of class to discuss accommodations (See Student responsibilities: http://www.sds.usf.edu/Students.htm). Each student must bring a current Memorandum of Accommodations from the Office of Student Disability.
Plagiarism: Taking the words of others without proper attribution and other forms of cheating are serious matters and will result in an f for the assignment/exam and a possible F grade for the class.
USE OF INTERNET: This class will also take advantage of access to global information available on the internet. Some of your assignments will include readings or visual materials from the web. Access to the web is available on campus at the computer center and the library. Most local libraries also allow you to get connected. The most important sites will be: (1) Our web site for the class [www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/syl2410.htm] – Note, the last part of the address is “/syl…” that is a lower case L and not 1. At this site you will find the course outline and some important links which I will be adding to during the semester:
The web site for text #1, Humanity and Introduction to Cultural Anthropology by is found at: http://www.wadsworth.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&flag=student&product_isbn_issn=9780534646431&discipline_number=15
The Wadsworth Anthropology Page, www.wadsworth.com/anthropology_d/index.html For general anthropology information and:
Applying Anthropology: http://thomsonedu.com/thomsonedu/disciplinesolutions.do?solId=2120&page=discipline
Other sites of note: The American Anthropological Association www.aaanet.org/ For ideas about careers in anthropology check out: www.wadsworth.com/anthropology_d/special_features/anthro_careers.html
E-MAIL AND BLACKBOARD: I expect students to have an e-mail account (they are free through the computer center) and be able to access the web. Send me before the second class - VIA THE BLACKBOARD "ASSIGNMENTS" menu (SEE BELOW) an answer to the focus questions for the 2nd class – MAKE SURE YOU ALSO PRINT AND BRING TO CLASS A COPY OF THESE ASSIGNMENTS.
USE OF BLACKBOARD: If you haven’t already done so, you will need to create a Net ID on Blackboard at: https://una.acomp.usf.edu/ get to blackboard at http://my.usf.edu The syllabus, assignments, course documents, periodic announcements, and other materials will be posted there. Communications are made to your official USF e-mail account. If you use another e-mail address you must forward all USF e-mail messages to your other e-mail account (such as Yahoo, AOL, or Hotmail).
**TO FORWARD E-MAIL: Once you have your official usf email you sign on with your net ID and password go to https://una.acomp.usf.edu/ and on the lower left of the screen, click on “Student E-mail” – Then you click on “Set Forwarding Address” and follow instructions.
**Sending focus Questions Via “Assignments” in Blackboard: Important-for doing answers: (1) type answers in your word processor, save the file in the format for “Word” (click on the “file,” menu, then click the “save as” menu making sure you are saving as a word document). NOTE: IF YOU CANNOT SAVE IN WORD, THEN SAVE AS A rtf file NOT WPS FILES); and (2) highlight and copy the text of your answer into the appropriate comment space of Blackboard Assignment (see below and then submit it along with the file). All assignments are to be sent through the Blackboard “Assignment” menu. When you access the course via Blackboard, on the left of the page you will see a menu with the item “Assignments,” Click on “Assignments,” and under each assignment you will see underlined “View/Complete Assignment:.”. Click on this and then under item #2, “Assignment Materials” you do two things before submitting: (1) Just under the comment box to the right, click “Browse” to access the file on your computer with the answers; (2) As a backup, copy and paste the text of your answer in the "Comments" area. FINALLY - under # 3 Submit, click “Submit” at the lower right of the page. (Note: the comment box can handle 3900 characters – about 700 words – in case you go over that just submit what can fit so I know you actually submitted the materials). There are no restrictions on the size of a file you submit.
FOCUS QUESIONS: For some classes you will be required to send answers via Blackboard the day before the assigned class (by 11AM), in paragraph form, to questions related to the reading. If you cannot send them to me electronically, they should be placed in my office door envelope by 11am the day before the assigned class. Each hour they are late you will get 1 point deducted. Answers to these questions will be graded from 0-10 and counted as part of your class participation grade. I will drop the lowest score on one of these for the semester. Please contact me immediately if you are having trouble with Blackboard.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Sometimes I will give you questions to specifically discuss at the beginning of class and while you will not have to e-mail these to me, you should be ready to answer them in class.
SLO Student Learning Outcomes: ANT 2410: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
GenEd Related Outcomes and Course Specific Outcomes: When you successfully complete this course, you will have fulfilled 3 credit hours toward GENED (general education) requirement for Social Sciences. If you are an ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR, and attain a grade of C or better this will count as one of your 4 lower level core required classes.
Course Specific SLOs: At the completion of this class you should be able to describe, explain, and discuss methods, knowledge, and ethics central to the cultural anthropological perspective as a social science. A more detailed list of the SLOs are found below and at: www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/syl2410.slos.htm and listed on Blackboard in Course Documents.
SLO Student Learning Outcomes: ANT 2410: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
GenEd Related Outcomes and Course Specific Outcomes:
When you successfully complete this course, you will have fulfilled 3 credit hours toward GENED (general education) requirement for Social Sciences. If you are an ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR, and attain a grade of C or better this will count as one of your 4 lower level core required classes.
At the completion of this class you should be able to describe, explain, and discuss methods, knowledge, and ethics central to the anthropological perspective as a social science. In particular, you will be able to describe, explain, and discuss:
1) their knowledge of anthropological research methods and theory discuss the conceptual framework of sociocultural anthropology in terms of the concept of culture and basic issue of social organization and institutions
A. Define key anthropological terms such as anthropology, archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, applied anthropology, culture, race, enculturation, globalism.
B. Identify and discuss the main research methods of cultural and linguistic anthropology including participant observation, interviewing, geneological method, life histories, cross-cultural ethnology, problem-oriented ethnography. Demonstrate how these various methods contribute to our understanding of living human behavior across the world.
2) Define and discuss applied anthropology and discuss the role of anthropology in addressing several contemporary social issues and problems..They will demonstrate awareness of the ethical dimensions human behavior and understand the importance of cultural relativism and emic and etic perspectives in recognition and respecting different cultural values and religions.
3) Demonstrate knowledge about the role played by factors such as language, art, gender, ethnicity, economic status, kinship, marriage, and globalism in influencing human social interaction. Students in Cultural Anthropology will identify different types of social organizations, marriage and family patterns, and kinship and descent systems found around the world.
ASSESSMENT TASKS: Class Requirements
You will be asked to demonstrate the above outcomes through completing three exams and a small number of “Focus Question” essays and class participation. Your final grade will be based on: exams - 80%, focus questions and class participation - 20%. The in-class exams will involve a combination of multiple choice, identification/short essay questions focusing on basic concepts and attempting to avoid minutia. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM FOR A VALID REASON, YOU MUST GET IN TOUCH WITH THE INSTRUCTOR BY THE NEXT CLASS PERIOD OR YOU WILL RECEIVE AN F FOR THE EXAM.
Required Texts and Assignments:
#1. Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, by
James Peoples and Garrick Bailey, 8th edition Thompson/Wadsworth 2008
#2. Conformity and Conflict, by James Spradley and David McCurdy, 12th
edition, 2006 - Blackwell
HANDOUTS AND WEB ASSIGNMENTS AS SPECIFIED BELOW
8/26 Topic: Introduction –What is Anthropology and what do anthropologists do?
8/28 Topic: Anthropology is Global Exploration of the Human Species
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Assignment: Book #1) Peoples and Bailey, CH 1; HANDOUT: "AGING, CULTURE AND THE OLD JABUIJABUI WOMAN" (also on Blackboard) Practice FOCUS QUESTION ASSIGNMENT - Due by 8/27, 5 PM via Blackboard “Assignments”: NOTE: for focus questions, even though they are short paragraphs, make an effort to include some substance in your answer. TELL ME THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT THINGS OF SUBSTANCE YOU LEARNED IN THE READINGS. Note: Normally such assignment will be due the day before the class at 11AM. |
9/2- Topic: It's All Relative; "Doing what comes unnaturally"
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Assignment: 1) CH 2; 2) Spradley and McCurdy reader article #23 (“Mixed Blood” – also on Blackboard): Web Reading: American Anthropological Association Statement on Race www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm Also on Blackboard as Course Document; Blackboard Course Document Reading: Anthropology in the News: "What is 'Goth'?" NOTE: If you are having a problem with any course material or need a reply from me quickly please use my direct e-mail, “I had a problem with Blackboard” will not be a valid excuse for not getting the focus questions in. Blackboard FOCUS QUESTIONS – DUE 9/1 at 11AM) 1. Why is race a social and not a racial construct?, (b) How does culture shape racial categories in the U.S. versus Brazil?; 2. Do you think western consumer culture will take over other cultures around the world? Explain your answer (1) Pp 26-27) *Discussion Question: Using information in the web site, “What is Goth?” and your other readings would an anthropologist call it a full culture, like possessed by theTiwi? |
9/4 Topic: You can apply Anthropology??? DVD on Students Applying Anthropology
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Assignment: 1) compete Ch. 2; 18 (up to P. 418) 2) #38 Discussion questions: According to David McCurdy, How is ethnography being used to study businesses? Key Web Resources: Applying Anthropology; What are some key issues anthropology is being applied to? Key Resources: “Cathy Small: Studying College Students: Applying Anthropology to Teaching Anthropology” http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/120841608/PDFSTART |
9/9 Models for Understanding Culture: “First Peoples” – Video – Children of the Forest
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Assignment: 1) Complete Ch 18; Ch 4 – up to page 75; Blackboard Course Document Reading: The Mbuti Blackboard Focus Question: (1) What is the difference between 19th and 20th/21st century anthropological theory? (2) How would the differences you note in focus question #1 cause anthropologists to view the Pygmies differently in the 20th/21st century, than in the 19th century? Extra Credit – can you apply the reading in Ch 18 to the situation of the Mbuti? |
Web Resource: Ituri Forest Peoples Fund www2.bc.edu/~morellig/IturiForestPeoplesFund/HTML/index.htm |
9/11 Topic: Theories on Culture - Video on Franz Boas
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Assignment: 1) Complete Ch 4 – Video on Franz Boas; Discussion Questions: Why is Franz Boas considered so important to modern anthropology?; What is the difference between humanistic versus scientific models of culture?; How might “materialism” apply to population pressure? |
Web Link: Anthro Theory |
9/16 Topic: Culture in Theory and Practice -
-Video -
"Doing Field Work Among the Yanomamo"
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Web Links: Darkness in Eldorado http://members.aol.com/archaeodog/darkness_in_el_dorado/index.htm ; AAA Task Force Report www.aaanet.org/edtf/index.htm |
9/18 Topic: Doing Anthropology - Video - “Tears for Tlaloc”
Sokolovsky's
Fieldwork in Mexico
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Assignment: 1) Complete Ch 5; 2) 4; Blackboard Course Document Reading: “Original Study: The Importance of Trobriand Women” Discussion questions: Why did Annette Weiner come up with different results in studying the same place as Malinowski?: Why Does Gananath Obyesekere argue that Europeans were wrong about Captain Cook and the Hawaiian?; How did Dr. Sterk apply anthropology to the study of prostitution? |
9/23 Topic: Language and Culture - Video- "Koko the
Gorilla Speaks"
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Assignment: 1) CH 6 Handout: “Language Renewal among the Northern Ute”; Blackboard Course Document reading: “The Great Ebonics Controversy:” Blackboard Focus Questions (1) How did Anthropologist Bill Leap use anthropology to help the Ute tribe regain its language? (2) What are the most important things you learned in the handout, “The Great Ebonics Controversy:” Can you take anything you learned from focus question #1 and use it to help answer this question? *Please in answering this I would expect you to make a real effort to understand the material rather than just state what you think you already know; (3) How is this all connected to the Box on P 134-5, “Applied Anthropology and Ebonics”? |
9/25 Topic: Topic: "What's that you say? "KenTimetz tica:" Video - Language and Culture
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Assignment: 1) Complete CH 6 Blackboard Course Document reading: “Friending Ancient and Otherwise” 2) # 6 Discussion Questions: (1) How is your perception of the world shaped by words? (2) How do you ask for a drink at a bar? (3) How is communicating on Face Book different than traditional oral communication? |
SEE BLACKBOARD FOR EXAM REVIEW - available AFTER CLASS 9/25
9/30 * EXAM 1
10/2 Topic: Becoming Enculturated - Sex, Gender and Identity – Class Tattoo Project
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Assignment:1) Ch 10 up to p. 218 (Life Course”); # 8 “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html Discussion Questions: 1. How can the global study of childhood help us better care for our own youth?; 2) How is body art used to community something about the self? Class “Tattoo Project” |
10/7 Topic: Learning to see through cultural lenses; Video - Margaret Mead
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Assignment: 1) complete CH 10; Ch. 11 to Pp. 237: Blackboard Course Document: The Mbuti Pygmies: Change and Adaptation; Handout: “Genderlects: Conversations between Men and Women” (also on Blackboard); Discussion Questions: What are “genderlects”? How do they relate to the growing up of children in our society? How do the Aka and Mbuti enculturate children promote gender equality?; How is Japan dealing with being the world oldest nation? |
10/9 Topic: The Global Importance of “First Peoples” Video - Food Gathering
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Assignment: 1) CH 6, up to P. 119 - (up to “Domestication") 2) #10; Web reading (a) “Case Study: Hoodia Cactus (South Africa)” http://filer.case.edu/ijd3/authorship/hoodia.html; (b) “Focus on Bio Piracy” www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/september/biopiracy.htm Discussion Questions: What are the key cultural features of foraging peoples? Why might Hoodia be a case of “Biopiracy”?; What did you learn from “Globalization and the Making of Indianess? |
10/14 Topic: Making a Living – Food Collectors vs Food Producers
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Assignment: 1) CH. 6; 2) #12 –make sure you read the intro to part 3; Web Assignment:1. Maasai Environmental Resource Coalition www.maasaierc.org/maasailegacy.html; “Environmental Justice Case Study: Maasai Land Rights in Kenya and Tanzania By: Julie Narimatsu www.umich.edu/~snre492/Jones/maasai.htm Blackboard Focus Questions: ANSWER TWO OF THESE : 1. Why is our food culture so tied to the lives of prehistoric Middle Easterners, Asians and peoples of Latin America? 2. a. What are the key differences between the way Pastoralism manages their ecosystem compared to agriculturalists? (b) what are the current problems facing the Maasai?; (3) What are the important shifts for humans when changing from food collection to depending on food production? |
10/16 Topic: Earth Day Fails in the Amazon - VIDEO "STING AND THE BODY SHOP IN THE AMAZON"
| Assignment: 1) CH. 7 up to Market Exchange, P146; review Pp. 418-426; 2)34; Blackboard Course Document: Original Study: ”Gardens of the Mekranoti Kayapo” Discussion Questions: 1) a. How were the Kayapo able to stop one of the world’s biggest dam projects? 2) Why are drug companies so interested in “primitive medicine”? |
10/21 Topic: Systems of Exchange Do you understand Christmas and the Potlatch?
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Assignment: 1) CH. 7, Ch 16 up to P 368 ; 2) 13 Discussion Question: How are the modes of exchange called reciprocity, redistribution and market exchange part of the North American ritual of Christmas? How does the cultural experience of this exchange compare with discussion of anthropological ideas about gifts and exchanges (e.g. Potlatch, Kula) taken from the Text and article #13 by Lee Cronk? How has Globalization impacted the world’s market system? |
10/23 Topic: Peasants in the Global Economy - The Little Village That Could - Video - Tears of Tlaloc, A Mexican Village Greets the 21st century
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Assignment: 1) CH 8, up to Polygyny Pp. 170; 16 (review up to P. 368); Handout: Jay Sokolovsky “A McDonald’s Nightmare” Web reading: “Globalization, Tourism & Indigenous Peoples” www.planeta.com/planeta/99/1199globalizationrt.html by Lee Pera and Deborah McLaren (also on blackboard; Blackboard Focus Question: 1. How has the village of Amanalco been able to retain its traditional culture yet rapidly modernize as a community? 2. If you went with me on my next trip to Amanalco, how would you use the web reading to advise the community on developing ecotourism? Discussion – How is the family system of Amanalco different from the one you are experience in the U.S. |
10/28 Topic: So You Want to Get Married; Video- "Marriage and Family"
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Assignment: 1) CH 8 Finish, P 426 (Globalization); 2) # 17, Web link: If you feel confused by the world of marriage and Kinship take this tutorial www.umanitoba.ca/anthropology/kintitle.html |
10/30 Exam Review available 10/30 Topic: Mates and Mating. Video - "Arranged Marriage in Baltimore"
| Assignment: 1) CH 9 (up to Avunculocality Revisited P. 194): 2) #18; Blackboard Reading: Arranged Marriages Web reading 2004 Anthropology News Gay Marriage and Anthropology Linda S Stone Discussion Questions: Why do many women from India still insist that their kin help arrange their marriages? What is the biggest differences between the Mosuo and your system of family formation? |
Web link: Trial Opens in Rare Case of a Utahan Charged With Polygamy www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/211poly1.htm |
11/4 EXAM 2 -
11/6 Topic: Global Perspective on Gender
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1) Ch. 9 (finish) Ch 11 Up to Gender Crossing…P.245; 2) #19 Discussion Question: How do women in patrilineal societies develop support and even power?; What is the difference between sex and gender? |
11/11 VETERAN’S DAY NO CLASS
11/13 Topic: "Gender, Transgender and Other Social Boundaries" Video – Transgender and Culture.
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Assignment: 1) CH 11; 2) #21 Web Assignment:
Eggi's Village: Life Among the Minangkabau of Indonesia
www.sas.upenn.edu/~psanday/eggi2.html OPTIONAL Blackboard Focus question to replace a low score: 1 (a) what do the Minangkabau mean when they refer to their social system as a "matriarchate."? (b) what does this mean for such things as gender relations, sharing power and mythology, 2) in what ways does this information relate to Friedl’s argument in article #21. |
11/18 Topic: The World beyond Kin – Video on Voluntary Associations
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Assignment: 1) Ch. 17 (up to Responses to Ethnic Conflict); Handout on Social Groups 2) # 31 Discussion Questions: Why did not the Nuer refugees remain in the US city where they were resettled? |
11/20 Topic: Gender and Inequality Video: Political Order in Cultural Context
| Assignment: 1) Ch. 17; CH 12 (up to p. 269, “Social Control”); 2) # 26 Discussion Question: According to Harris, how do people in non-centralized political systems get people to follow leaders? |
11/25 Topic: Band, Tribe, Chiefdom, State AND GODS,
| Assignment: 1) Ch. 17, 2) #24; Blackboard Course Document Reading – Jack Weatherford “The Founding Indian Fathers.” Discussion Question: According to Weatherford how did Native American political traditions contribute to the creation of the U.S constitution and organization of government? What has the US failed to establish a stable state in Iraq?; How was murder handled among the Cheyenne? |
11/27 THANKSGIVING – NO CLASS
12/2 Topic: Getting the Spirit – what is religion; What Kind of a ritual is Thanksgiving? Video- "Comparative Religious Behavior" –
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Assignment: 1) CH 14; P. 371-73; 2) #28; Web Assignment: Read
Witches Cast as the Neo-Pagans Next Door
www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/wicca.htm
OPTIONAL focus questions: You can do this if you missed more than one focus question or you received a grade of C on an exam or a 7 or less on a focus question. DUE 2/2 – Handed in during class: Using the data from the web site AND the Text chapter on Religion discuss: (a) Is Wicca a religion? If so, why; (b) Is the model of a revitalization movement as discussed in the text and in article #30 appropriate for understanding the development of Wicca? (c) According to the text, how is globalization related to the rise of Fundamentalism? |
12/4 Ritual, Religion and the Powers that Be
| Assignment: 1) Ch. 14; 2) #30 |
12/9 FINAL EXAM/Exam 3 – This will focus mostly on materials since the last exam, but there will be some items from other parts of the semester. I will be very specific about these on the exam review sheet.
