Syllabus Fall 2022
Introduction to Anthropology
ANTH 1100
Fall 2022
T/TH 8:30-10:20
AC Room 311 (Scarpa Building)
Professor Laurie Greene
 |
| Anthropology the Age of Globalization: Why Study Culture? |
AC Campus Office: 224g
Email: laurie.greene@stockton.edu
Cell Phone: 609.214.6596 (text or call)
Office Hours: by appointment, M-Th
Required Texts:
(1) Guest, Kenneth J. (2018) Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age, 2E. Norton.
(2) Guest, Kenneth J. , ed. ((2018) Cultural Anthropology: A reader for a global age. Norton
(3) Blog Posts with lecture outlines
Anthropology is the study of the full scope of human diversity, past and present, and the application of that knowledge to help people of different backgrounds better understand one another. Anthropology provides a unique set of tools, including strategies and perspectives, for understanding our rapidly changing, globalizing world. Whether your field is business or education, economics or psychology, we all need a skill set for analyzing and engaging a multicultural and increasingly interconnected world and workplace. That is what this class is about! Applying anthropological knowledge, skills and perspectives to understanding the complex world around us.
Course Objectives:
(1) Guest, Kenneth J. (2018) Essentials of Cultural Anthropology: A Toolkit for a Global Age, 2E. Norton.
(2) Guest, Kenneth J. , ed. ((2018) Cultural Anthropology: A reader for a global age. Norton
(3) Blog Posts with lecture outlines
Anthropology is the study of the full scope of human diversity, past and present, and the application of that knowledge to help people of different backgrounds better understand one another. Anthropology provides a unique set of tools, including strategies and perspectives, for understanding our rapidly changing, globalizing world. Whether your field is business or education, economics or psychology, we all need a skill set for analyzing and engaging a multicultural and increasingly interconnected world and workplace. That is what this class is about! Applying anthropological knowledge, skills and perspectives to understanding the complex world around us.
Course Objectives:
- To understand the value of studying anthropology in our modern world (applied practice)
- To understand the unique perspective and methodology of anthropology (fieldwork/ethnography)
- To understand the nature and functions of culture
- To understand the impact of the forces of globalization on our modern world (inequality, migration, diversity)
- To understand our own beliefs and behaviors as a function of culture (ethnocentrism/cultural relativity)
- To understand the key concepts in the discipline of anthropology
Class Requirements and Grading:
Midterm: 50 total points
Final: 50 total points
Class Discussion Openers 50 points (5 points each/10 plus 1)*
Total Possible Points: 150
146-150 A+
140-145 A
135-139 A-
130-134 B+
124-129 B
118-123 B-
114-117 C+
109-113 C
102-108 C-
97-101 D+
93-96 D
90-92 D-
below 90 F
Midterm: 50 total points
Final: 50 total points
Class Discussion Openers 50 points (5 points each/10 plus 1)*
Total Possible Points: 150
146-150 A+
140-145 A
135-139 A-
130-134 B+
124-129 B
118-123 B-
114-117 C+
109-113 C
102-108 C-
97-101 D+
93-96 D
90-92 D-
below 90 F
*You may miss one of the 11 Assignments and still get full credit. Each assignment is worth 5 points. Possible points is 55.
Required Readings and Topical Coverage
I. Week#1: September 6-8 Introduction, Anthropology in the Global Age
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 1, pages 4-29
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is anthropology?
---Through what lenses do anthropologists gains comprehensive view of human cultures?
---What is globalization and why is it important for anthropology?
---How is globalization transforming anthropology?
II. Week #2: September 13-15, The Nature and Meaning of Culture and Culture Change
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 2, pages 30-59
CA reader, Chapter 1-2
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is culture?
---How has the concept of culture developed in anthropology?
---How are culture and power related?
---How much of who you are is shaped by biology and how much by culture?
---How is culture created?
---How is globalization transforming culture?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is culture?
---How has the concept of culture developed in anthropology?
---How are culture and power related?
---How much of who you are is shaped by biology and how much by culture?
---How is culture created?
---How is globalization transforming culture?
---How do cultures change?
---What are the properties of change?
---Can the direction of culture change be predicted?
---What are the determinants of the process of diffusion?
September 13 Class Discussion Opener 1: Reading Culture in a Can of Coke:After reading about the Coca-Cola bottling factory in Plachimada, India, note how a can of coke has "a social life of its own"(Appadurai). It is produced, distributed and consumed. It moves about through space, is acted upon by others and shapes people's lives. Considering that "all commodities have a biography"(Kopytoff), try to look at a can of coke through an anthropologist's eyes, making something that is very familiar...strange by seeing the complex human interactions that are organized around a can of coke. (5 points)
September 13 Class Discussion Opener 1: Reading Culture in a Can of Coke:After reading about the Coca-Cola bottling factory in Plachimada, India, note how a can of coke has "a social life of its own"(Appadurai). It is produced, distributed and consumed. It moves about through space, is acted upon by others and shapes people's lives. Considering that "all commodities have a biography"(Kopytoff), try to look at a can of coke through an anthropologist's eyes, making something that is very familiar...strange by seeing the complex human interactions that are organized around a can of coke. (5 points)
- Consider a can of coke: (buy one!) Prepare at least THREE of these questions for discussion
- what is in it and where did it come from?
- who made it, what is life like for them?
- what is the impact of Coke on the local community where it is produced? Where it is consumed?
- what is the relationship of the people in Plachimada to a can of Coke? Do they drink it? Do they work in the factory that makes it? How much do they earn? How much has the Coca-Cola factory changed their lives? Has it affected people in the community differently depending on their age, gender or class?
- What did you pay for the can of Coke? What are the "social costs" of producing a can of Coke? (water, power, sewage, pollution, garbage disposal, roads for transportation, etc.)Who pays for these costs?
- What is the environmental impact of making a can of Coke? (grow and process ingredients, amount of water required, etc.)
III. Week#3: September 20-22, Fieldwork and Ethnography (on Zoom)
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 3, pages 60-89
CA reader, Chapter 3
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is unique about ethnographic fieldwork and why do anthropologists conduct this type of research?
---How did the concept of fieldwork develop?
---How do anthropologists get started conducting fieldwork?
---How do anthropologists write ethnography?
---What moral and ethical concerns guide anthropologists in their research and writing?
---How is fieldwork changing in response to globalization?
September 20 Class Discussion Opener 2: After Reading the article on the Nacirema Culture, discuss the "ethnocentric gaze" and how understanding ourselves, is a window to understanding others (Spradley).
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is unique about ethnographic fieldwork and why do anthropologists conduct this type of research?
---How did the concept of fieldwork develop?
---How do anthropologists get started conducting fieldwork?
---How do anthropologists write ethnography?
---What moral and ethical concerns guide anthropologists in their research and writing?
---How is fieldwork changing in response to globalization?
September 20 Class Discussion Opener 2: After Reading the article on the Nacirema Culture, discuss the "ethnocentric gaze" and how understanding ourselves, is a window to understanding others (Spradley).
(5 points)
- Who are the Nacirema? If you know, does this change your reading of the essay?
- How does the outsider's view of American Culture allowed you to see yourself and your culture in a new light?
- What we consider rational, scientific and logical may appear irrational, unscientific and illogical in another. How does Miner's article challenge us to confront our ethnocentrism?
- How might you update the story of the Nacirema today? Can you write a similar piece about a ethnocentric view of a practice we take for granted (cell phone usage, eye contact on public transport, seating habits in class).
IV. Week#4: September 27-September 29, Language & Culture, Art & Symbolism
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 4, pages 90-117 Chapter 15, pages 425-449
CA reader, Chapter 15
CA reader, Chapter 4
PODCAST HERE and HERE
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is language and where does it come from?
---How does language shape our ways of thinking?
---How do systems of power intersect with language and communication?
---What are the effects of globalization on language?
September 27 Class Discussion Opener 4: After Reading Shakespeare in the Bush, discuss the ways in which language and culture appear to be connected. (5 points)
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is language and where does it come from?
---How does language shape our ways of thinking?
---How do systems of power intersect with language and communication?
---What are the effects of globalization on language?
---What is art?
---What is unique about how anthropologists study art?
---What is the relationship between art and power?
---How do art and media intersect?
---What is unique about how anthropologists study art?
---What is the relationship between art and power?
---How do art and media intersect?
- In what ways does the Tiv culture shape their interpretation of Hamlet?
- Is "human nature" the same all over the world? Use Bohannan's fieldwork experience to support your position
- Does language shape the way we think? Support your position on the interpretations of the TIv.
- Can our culture shape the way that we use and understand language? Consider words like "terrorist" or "Communist" or "liberal" or "Feminist".
V. Week#5: October 4-6, Race and Racism
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 5, pages 119-149
CA reader, Chapter 5
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Do biologically separate races exist?
---How is race constructed around the world?
---How is race constructed in the United States?
---What is racism?
October 4 Class Discussion Opener 5: Race and Racism may be one of the most contentious and least understood concepts in American Culture. Considering your Readings in Chapter 5 (Part 2), (5 points)
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Do biologically separate races exist?
---How is race constructed around the world?
---How is race constructed in the United States?
---What is racism?
October 4 Class Discussion Opener 5: Race and Racism may be one of the most contentious and least understood concepts in American Culture. Considering your Readings in Chapter 5 (Part 2), (5 points)
- Racism is more than individual prejudice, it is a power structure supported by the institutions in society and the tacit beliefs in culture. Describe the key institutions that helped reshape the US racial landscape after WWII (article on Jews-hint)
- How were African Americans shut out of the post-war suburban building boom (and other impacts of racism)/ Do we see these same impacts still today?
- How did Jews become "white folks"?
- How is race understood differently in the US and Brazil?
- What role can social media play in activism and anti-racism today? How does this work and why? Consider #blacklivesmatter
- What are the challenges to eliminating racism from a cultural perspective?
VI. Week#6: October 11-13, Ethnicity and Nationalism
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 6, pages 151-175
CA reader, Chapter 6
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What does ethnicity mean to anthropology?
---How and why is ethnicity created, mobilized, and contested?
---What is the relationship of ethnicity to nation?
October 11 Class Discussion Opener 6: After reading the article by Paul Farmer, consider the notion of ethnicity, violence, and "stupid deaths" (5 points)
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What does ethnicity mean to anthropology?
---How and why is ethnicity created, mobilized, and contested?
---What is the relationship of ethnicity to nation?
October 11 Class Discussion Opener 6: After reading the article by Paul Farmer, consider the notion of ethnicity, violence, and "stupid deaths" (5 points)
- How does the article on Rwanda reveal how ethnicity is constructed?
- What role does the socialite of landmines play in the modern history of Rwanda?
- How does Farmer connect the construction of ethnicity and genocide in Rwanda to global causes and dynamics?
- What is farmer's challenge to anthropologists about their role in addressing violence, genocide and "stupid deaths"?
- What are "stupid deaths" and who suffers most from them?
VII. Week#7: October 18-20, Gender, Culture, Sex & Sexuality
October 18 Class Discussion Opener 7: In the current cultural moment, concepts of "gender identity" as fixed and definitive are being challenged. After reading Emily Martin's the Egg and the Sperm, discuss how culture shapes our understanding of gendered realities. (5 points)
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 7-8, pages 177-231
CA reader, Chapter 7 & 8
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Are men and women born or made?
---Are there more than two sexes?
---How do anthropologists explore the relationship between gender and power?
---How is globalization transforming gender roles and stratification?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Are men and women born or made?
---Are there more than two sexes?
---How do anthropologists explore the relationship between gender and power?
---How is globalization transforming gender roles and stratification?
---What is sexuality and where does it come from?
---How can we understand sexuality from a global perspective?
---How has sexuality been constructed in the United States?
---How is sexuality an arena for working out relations of power?
---How does globalization influence local expressions of sexuality?
---How can we understand sexuality from a global perspective?
---How has sexuality been constructed in the United States?
---How is sexuality an arena for working out relations of power?
---How does globalization influence local expressions of sexuality?
October 18 Class Discussion Opener 7: In the current cultural moment, concepts of "gender identity" as fixed and definitive are being challenged. After reading Emily Martin's the Egg and the Sperm, discuss how culture shapes our understanding of gendered realities. (5 points)
- How is the story of reproduction in the US gendered? How does the American notion of the reality of gender impact the scientific description and understanding of reproduction?
- What terms and descriptions did Martin find in medical texts that she felt were gender biased (for females? for males?)?
- How do these misrepresentations of the biological activities of the egg and the sperm provide an ideological basis and rationale for gender stereotypes and inequality? Why do you think these myths persist?
- Do these stereotypes contribute to women's reproductive choices?
- What does Martin mean by "sleeping metaphors"?How can the anthropological perspective "wake them up"?
No Class October 25: Preceptorial Advising
MIDTERM EXAM October 27 (covering Weeks 1-7).
VIII. Week#8: November 1-3, Kinship family and Marriage
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 9, pages 233-259
CA reader, Chapter 9
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How are we related to one another?
---Are biology and marriage the only basis for kinship?
---How are ideas of kinship linked to the nation-state?
---How is kinship changing in the modern world?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How are we related to one another?
---Are biology and marriage the only basis for kinship?
---How are ideas of kinship linked to the nation-state?
---How is kinship changing in the modern world?
November 1 Class Discussion Opener 8: Mapping your kinship relationships. (5 points)
- after drawing out your "family tree" (kinship chart) discuss the terms (language) used to describe your relatives. What kinds of things does our kinship terminology reveal to be significant?
- What "stories" does your family tree reveal?
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 10-11, pages 261-331
CA reader, Chapter 10
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Is inequality a "natural" part of human culture?
---How do anthropologists analyze class and inequality?
---How are class and inequality constructed?
---Why are class and inequality largely "invisible"?
---What are the effects of global inequality?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---Is inequality a "natural" part of human culture?
---How do anthropologists analyze class and inequality?
---How are class and inequality constructed?
---Why are class and inequality largely "invisible"?
---What are the effects of global inequality?
---What is an economy, and what is its purpose?
---What are the roots of today's global economy?
---What are the dominant organizing principles of the global economy today?
---How does today's global economy link worker's with consumers worldwide?
---How is today's global economy reshaping migration?
---Is today's global economic system sustainable?
November 8 Class Discussion Opener 9: Economic activity is less about supply and demand, and more about the social VALUE of exchange.After reading the two articles in chapter 10 of your reader, discuss the surprising social meaning of exchange revealed through the anthropological perspective. (5 points)
---What are the roots of today's global economy?
---What are the dominant organizing principles of the global economy today?
---How does today's global economy link worker's with consumers worldwide?
---How is today's global economy reshaping migration?
---Is today's global economic system sustainable?
November 8 Class Discussion Opener 9: Economic activity is less about supply and demand, and more about the social VALUE of exchange.After reading the two articles in chapter 10 of your reader, discuss the surprising social meaning of exchange revealed through the anthropological perspective. (5 points)
- what economic forces and cultural definitions contribute to the "underground economy" (Bourgeois)
- What is the social impact of the second hand clothing trade?
- How is inequality created and perpetuated?
X. Week#10: November 15-17, Politics and Power
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 12, pages 333-361
CA reader, Chapter 12
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How do anthropologists view the origins of political history?
---What is the state?
---How is globalization affecting the state?
---What is the relationship among politics, the state, violence, and war?
---How do people mobilize power outside of the state's control?
November 15 Class Discussion Opener10: Are warfare and violence an inevitable part of human existence?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How do anthropologists view the origins of political history?
---What is the state?
---How is globalization affecting the state?
---What is the relationship among politics, the state, violence, and war?
---How do people mobilize power outside of the state's control?
November 15 Class Discussion Opener10: Are warfare and violence an inevitable part of human existence?
- Is warfare universal according to Mead?
- What determines the levels of violence in a culture?
- What is Nordstrom's definition of shadow networks and how do they relate to modern warfare?
- what truths about warfare are revealed through the anthropological perspective?
XI. Week#11: November 22, Politics and Power
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 12, pages 333-361
CA reader, Chapter 12
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How do anthropologists view the origins of political history?
---What is the state?
---How is globalization affecting the state?
---What is the relationship among politics, the state, violence, and war?
---How do people mobilize power outside of the state's control?
November 22 Class Discussion Opener 11: Are warfare and violence an inevitable part of human existence? (5 points)
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---How do anthropologists view the origins of political history?
---What is the state?
---How is globalization affecting the state?
---What is the relationship among politics, the state, violence, and war?
---How do people mobilize power outside of the state's control?
November 22 Class Discussion Opener 11: Are warfare and violence an inevitable part of human existence? (5 points)
- Is warfare universal according to Mead?
- What determines the levels of violence in a culture?
- What is Nordstrom's definition of shadow networks and how do they relate to modern warfare?
- what truths about warfare are revealed through the anthropological perspective?
No Class November 24: Thanksgiving
XII. Week#12: November 29-December 1, Religion and Systems of Meaning
Readings: EoCA, Chapter 13, pages 363-393
CA reader, Chapter 13
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is religion?
---What tools do anthropologists use to understand how religion works?
---In what ways is religion both a system of meaning and a system of power?
---How is globalization changing religion?
Key Concepts/learning objectives:
---What is religion?
---What tools do anthropologists use to understand how religion works?
---In what ways is religion both a system of meaning and a system of power?
---How is globalization changing religion?
XIII. Week#13: December 6-12 Study Week: See study guide and review on "Blog"
XV. Week#14: Final Exam December 14th (due at midnight) -exam will be emailed on Friday, December 10.
Texts and readings are required for this course. Please let me know if you have problems acquiring the texts. The principle text may be purchased in ANY of the last three editions. The reader MUST BE PURCHASED in the EDITION DESIGNATED above.
Assignments are not OPTIONAL unless indicated.
Comments
Post a Comment