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ANT 2410 Cultural Anthropology SPRING
2008 |
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USF |
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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
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-.
Class Requirements
Your final grade will be based on: 3 exams - 80%, focus questions (including
“gift project”) 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.
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:
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 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.
Plagerism: 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.
(2) 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
(3) Applying Anthropology: http://thomsonedu.com/thomsonedu/disciplinesolutions.do?solId=2120&page=discipline
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: 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: go to http://my.usf.edu and on the upper left of the screen, click on “Sign Up” – after you sign on with your net ID and password – scroll down to click on Web Mail – in Web Mail, click on the top menu item “Options,” In the lowest left menu item select “Email Forwarding” and put in your non-school email in this space and click “Change Settings.” Sending focus Questions: 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 a 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
Required Texts and Assignments:
1). Humanity: An Introduction to Cultural
Anthropology, by James Peoples and Garrick Bailey, 7th edition,
2006. Thompson/Wadsworth.
2). Conformity and Conflict, by James Spradley and David
McCurdy, 12th edition, 2006 - Blackwell
HANDOUTS AND WEB ASSIGNMENTS
AS SPECIFIED BELOW Assignments:
1/08 Topic: Introduction –What
is Anthropology and what do anthropologists do?
1/10 Topic:
Anthropology is Global Exploration of the Human Species
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Assignment: Book 1) Peoples and
Bailey, CH 1; NOTE: In case you could not get the book yet the first chapter is on
Blackboard under “Course Documents.” |
1/15- Topic: It's All Relative; "Doing what comes unnaturally"
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Assignment: 1) CH 2; Book 2) Spradley
and McCurdy reader article #23 (“Mixed Blood”) Web 1. Why do anthropologists consider race more
of a social/culural than a biological
construct?, (b) How does culture shape racial categories in the U.S. versus
Brazil?; (2) Using information in the
web site, “What is Goth?” and your other readings would an anthropologist
call “Goth” a full culture, like possessed by the Tiwi? |
1/17 Topic: You can apply Anthropology??? – Video on Students Applying Anthropology
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Assignment: 1)
compete Ch. 2, Ch. 18 (up to “Anthros. As Advocates.) P. 389 2) #38
Web reading: “AAA Opposes U.S. Military’s Human Terrain System Project” www.aaanet.org/blog/PR_110707.htm Discussion questions:
According to David McCurdy, How is ethnography being used to study
businesses?; Why is the American
Anthropological Association opposed to the “Human Terrain System
Project.” Key Web Resources: Applying Anthropology http://thomsonedu.com/thomsonedu/disciplinesolutions.do?solId=2120&page=discipline ; Global Consumer Culture – The Anthropology of Marketing www.indiana.edu/%7Ewanthro/consum.htm
Corporate Anthropology, Tampa Tribune, Aug. 21, 2-001; www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/211corporate.htm |
1/22 Models for Understanding
Culture: “First Peoples” – Video – Children of the
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Assignment: 1)
Complete Web Resourse: National Geographic
special on Mbuti http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0509/feature5/multimedia.html Blackboard Focus Question: (1) What is the difference between 19th
and 20th century anthropological theory? (2) How would the differences you note in
focus question #1 cause anthropologists to view the Pygmies differently in
the 20th century, than in the 19th century? |
1/24 Topic: Theories on Culture - Video on Franz Boas
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Assignment: 1) Complete Ch 4 – Video on
Franz Boas; Web Reading: “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema” http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~thompsoc/Body.html Discussion Questions: Why is Franz Boas considered so important to modern anthropology?; What does Nacirema body ritual tell you about their perception of the body? What are the key contrasts between scientific and humanistic approaches in anthropology? |
Web Link: Anthro Theory |
1/29 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 |
1/31 Topic: Doing Anthropology - Video - “Tears for Tlaloc”
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Assignment: 1) Complete Ch 5; 2) #1, 4;
Blackboard Course Document Discussion questions:
Why did Annette Weiner come up with
different results in studying the same place as Malinowski?:
Why does Gananath Obeyesekere argue that Europeans were wrong about Captain
Cook and the Hawaiians? |
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2/5
Topic: Language and Culture - Video- "Koko the
Gorilla Speaks"
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Assignment: 1) CH 6 Handout: “Language Renewal among the Northern Ute” (also on Blackboard); 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. |
2/7 Topic: Topic: "What's that you say? "KenTimetz Tica?" Video - Language and Culture
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Assignment: 1) CH 6; 2) # 6: Blackboard Course Document reading: “Friending Ancient and Otherwise” Discussion Questions: (1) How is your perception of the world shaped by words? (2) How did US media create a sentiment for supporting war in Iraq? (3) How is communicating on Face Book different than traditional oral communication? |
CLICK HERE FOR STUDY GUIDE FOR
FIRST EXAM - available 2/7
2/12 * EXAM 1
2/14 Topic: Becoming Enculturated - Video - Margaret Mead
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Assignment:1) Ch. 10
to “Life Cycle,” P200; 2) # 8 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 “Tatoo Project” |
2/19 Topic: Learning to see through cultural lenses;
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Assignment: 1) complete CH 10; 2) #9 Blackboard Course Documents: The Mbuti Pygmies: Change and Adaptation; “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 is this connected to article #9; What is the most important part of the life cycle in North American Society? |
2/21 Topic: The Global Importance of “First Peoples” Video - Food Gathering
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Assignment:
1) CH 6, up to P. 112;
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? |
2/26 Topic: Making a Living – Food Collectors vs Food Producers
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Assignment: 1) CH. 6 finish 2) #11; 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. What are the key differences between the way Pastoralism manages their ecosystem compared to agriculturalists?; (3) What are the important shifts for humans when changing from food collection to depending on food production? |
Key Native
Amecan Web site: |
2/28 Topic:
Earth Day Fails in the Amazon - VIDEO "STING AND THE BODY SHOP IN
THE AMAZON"
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Assignment:
1) CH. 7 up to “Market Exchange,” P139, review Pp. 389-98-5 2) #13, 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) Can the Amazon be managed
sustainably?; 3) How can anthropologists advocate
for indigenous peoples? |
3/4 Topic: Systems of Exchange and The Nomadic Strategy; Video - Nomads of Kenya
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Assignment: 1) CH. 7 - finish, also review 123-128 on Pastoralism 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 Discussion questions: 1. (a) While foragers and pastoralists tend to both be nomadic, how does the pastoral life shape culture differently than among foragers, (b) what are some current problems faced by the Maasai; (2) How has Globalization impacted the world’s market system? |
3/6 Topic: Do you understand Christmas and the Potlatch? Gift Project Due!
Spring Break –
no class 3/11 & 3/13
3/18 Topic: Peasants in the
Global Economy - The Little Village That Could - Video - Tears of
Tlaloc, A
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Assignment: 1) CH 16 – Web
reading: “Globalization, Tourism & Indigenous Peoples” www.planeta.com/planeta/99/1199globalizationrt.html
by Lee Pera and Deborah McLaren (also on blackboard; Handout: Jay Sokolovsky “A McDonald’s
Nightmare” 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 Question:. Based on the text – how will Globalization most likely impact the life of you and your family over the next two decades? |
3/20 Topic: So You Want to Get Married; Video- "Marriage and Family"
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Assignment: 1) CH 8 up to “Marriage
Exchanges” p. 161; 2) 17,
18 Web link: If you feel confused by
the world of marriage and Kinship take this tutorial www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/kintitle.html |
3/25
EXAM 2 - Exam Review available 3/20
3/27 Topic:
Mates and Mating. Video -
"Arranged Marriage in
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Assignment: 1) Complete CH 8; Blackboard
Reading: Arranged Marriages; Web assignment: From the May 2004 Anthropology News Gay Marriage and
Anthropology Linda S Stone Discussion
Question: Why do many women from |
4/1 Topic:
"Kissin' Kin and Other Strange People"
Video- "Descent Groups"
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Assignment: 1) CH 9 up to “Cognatic
Descent,” P. 181; 2) # 21 Web
Assignment: Eggi's Village: Life Among the Minangkabau of Indonesia www.sas.upenn.edu/~psanday/eggi2.html |
4/3 Topic: Real and Unreal Kin – Video “Gender Identity in a Global Framework”
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1) Ch. 9 – Finish, Ch 11.Up to “Gender Stratification” P. 228 2) # 18, 19 Discussion Question: What is the biggest differences between the Mosuo and your system of family formation? |
4/8 The World beyond Kin VIDEO - VOLUNTARY
ASSOCIATIONS
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Assignment: 1)
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4/10 Topic: Band, Tribe, Chiefdom, State, Video:
Political Order in Cultural Context
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Assignment: 1) CH 12 up to “Law” p. 249; Ch. 17 up to “The Problem of Stateless Societies, P360 2) #16, Discussion Question: According to Harris, how do people in non-centralized political systems get people to follow leaders? |
4/15 Topic: Law,
War and Conflict resolution – Why are we at War in
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Assignment: 1) CH
12; Finish Ch 17; 2) #24; Blackboard Course Document |
4/17 Topic: Getting the Spirit – what is
religion Video- "Comparative Religious
Behavior"
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Assignment: 1) |
4/22 Topic: Ritual, Religion and the Powers that Be – Video – The Mexican Fiesta
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Assignment: 1) CH.
14 2); 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 4/24 – 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 Ch 35
appropriate for understanding the development of Wicca? (c) According to the
text, how is globalization related to the rise of Fundamentalism? |
4/24 Summing Up
and preparing for the last exam Assignment: 2) #30, # 33,
4/29 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.