Syllabus for Anthropology 121 LAMC
Anthropology of Religion, Magic, & Witchcraft (Lecture Fall 2014)
Course: Anthropology of Religion, Magic, & Witchcraft
Section: 3028
Time: Wednesday 6:50-10:00 pm
Instructor: S. Etheridge-Criswell
Location: CMS 004
Office Hours: Wednesday 5:45-6:45pm, CMS 004
Email: etherism@lavc.edu (preferred) or sarah.etheridge@canyons.edu (back up)
The best way to contact me is through email. Please include your full name and class in the subject
line of all emails. Inform the instructor immediately (a) about any special needs or learning
requirements you may have
Required Textbooks:
Stein, Rebecca L. & Stein, Phillip L. (2011). The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and
Witchcraft (3rd edition). Pearson. ISBN: 978-0205718115
Anne Fadiman. (2012). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her
American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures (Paperback). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN:
978-0374533403
Course Description: This course is an introductory course in comparative aspects and practices of
religions around the world, using an anthropological lens.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to compare and contrast religious practices, beliefs, and institutions
from a variety of societies with different economic and technological foundations.
2. Students will be able to evaluate the religious fixtures including symbolism, myth, ritual,
and ritual practitioners.
3. Students will be able to analyze contemporary American religious practices in a broad array
of communities, ethnic groups and immigrant groups including modern Wicca,
Pentecostalism, cults, and New Age religious practices.
Effective this Fall 14 semester, an English 28 or ESL 8 prerequisite for all classes in the Life Sciences
Expectations: Students must be prepared, organized, and must manage their time well, since this
course is very interactive and has several overlapping elements. Students must come to class on
time and prepared, with all materials needed to complete assignments. Students are expected to
review materials and complete assignments during the week, in order to prepare for each class.
Participation, discussion and demonstrations are required. All students must respect their fellow
classmates so we can all share a productive, comfortable working environment, and all students
must respect the classroom and its equipment and specimens.
Due Dates: No late work will be accepted. If you know you will be absent, you can make up
assignments before the missed class but not after. No make-up tests will be given, except if the
student has written evidence of a school-approved absence or makes arrangements with me prior
to the test date.
Attendance and Withdrawal: Students are expected to attend each class. If absent, students must
get notes and other information from a classmate and also complete all assignments. Students are
still held responsible for knowing all material, even if absent. After 3 absences, the instructor may
withdraw you in accordance with the student’s lack of academic progress. You are responsible for
confirming that you have been officially withdrawn from the course if you stop attending. Do
not rely on the instructor to meet your withdrawal deadlines.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating on an exam or any other assignment is illegal and will not be
tolerated. No memory aids of any kind may be used during exams. You may not use books, notes,
note cards, PDAs, cell phones, text messaging, iPods, or any other memory aids during the exams.
Electronic devices of any kind may not be used during class. Any student who is suspected of
cheating by the Instructor will have their exam confiscated, receive an "F" grade (score of zero) for
the exam, and will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action. Plagiarism, an unlawful
act that is defined as the misrepresentation of the published ideas, concepts, or words of another as
one's own, will not be tolerated in courses. Plagiarism on any exam or assignment will result in an
"F" grade (score of zero) for that particular exam/assignment; the student will be referred to the
administration for disciplinary action.
Classroom Behavior: Students must show respectful behavior when in class, to the instructor,
other classmates, and to any specimens we may use. Any disrespectful or immature behavior will
result in disciplinary action, including removal of student from the classroom. Use proper behavior
when dealing with lab specimens. Talking during the class or using electronic devices during class is
strictly prohibited. No food or drink is allowed inside the classroom at any time. Any items brought
inside will be discarded.
Students with Special Needs: please notify the instructor of any special accommodations you
might require during this course no later than the first class session. Disabled Students Programs
and Services (DSP&S): For appointments, eligibility and information call 818-364-7732 or visit
http://www.lamission.edu/dsps/.
Deadlines:
Last Day to add: 9/12
Drop with no W: 9/14
To drop with a W: 11/23
Grading:
EXAMS: 1 midterm (100 points) and 1 final (100 points) (50 questions, all on Scantron)
10 In-Class Assignments (ICA): 20 points each, total of 200 points
5 Homework Assignments (HW): 20 points each, total of 100 points
3 Quizzes on The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: 20 points each, total of 60 points
1 group assignment (enthnography) and presentation (details below): 50 points
Participation: up to an extra 40 points (Active participation in the classroom, video log, regular
attendance, etc., determined by the instructor)
Optional Extra Credit assignments (details below) up to 20 points
(650 possible total points)
585-650 = A
520-584 = B
455-519 = C
390-454 = D
below 390 = F
Syllabus (May Change During the Semester)
CHAPTER
DATE
CHAPTER 1: THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL
SEP 3
STUDY OF RELIGION
SEP 10
CHAPTER 2: MYTHOLOGY
SEP 17
CHAPTER 3:RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
SEP 24
CHAPTER 4: RITUAL
ASSIGNMENT
Syllabus; Meet and Greet, Add/Drop
“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”
Discussion: What defines a religion? What
are the main religions?
HW #1: Yanamamo Creation Myths
ICA #1: Creation Myths
Video Log: Greek Mythology: Zeus
ICA #2: Making Joyful Noise in Religious
Video Log: Swastika Documentary
HW #1 Due
HW #2: The Virgin of Guadalupe: A
Mexican National Symbol (article on
Portal)
Video Log: Taboo Healing Rituals
OCT 1
CHAPTER 4: RITUAL
OCT 8
CHAPTER 5: ALTERED STATES OF
CONSCIOUSNESS
OCT 15
CHAPTER 6: RELIGIOUS SPECIALISTS
OCT 22
MIDTERM
CHAPTER 7: MAGIC AND DIVINATION
CHAPTER 8: SOULS, GHOSTS, AND
DEATH
OCT 29
NOV 5
CHAPTER 9: GODS AND SPIRITS
NOV 12
CHAPTER 10: WITCHCRAFT
NOV 19
NOV 26
NO CLASS
DEC 3
CHAPTER 10: WITCHCRAFT
DEC 10
CHAPTER 11: THE SEARCH FOR NEW
MEANINGS
DEC 17
FINAL
Group Project:
and article on sacrifices
HW #3: Adaptive Value of Rituals (article
on Portal)
HW #2 Due
Discuss novel
Quiz #1: Chapters 1-6 (Spirit Catches
You)
ICA#3: FGM article
Video Log: Taboo: Initiations
HW #3 Due
Video Log: Taboo Sacred Pain
ICA #4: Trance and Possession
Review available on Portal
Information on Group ProjectReview
available on Portal
ICA #5: Eyes of Ngangas article
HW #3 Due
Review for midterm
Chapters 1-6, articles, novel, videos
ICA#6: Baseball Magic article
Video Log: Taboo: Exorcism
ICA #7: Zombies and Vampires article
Video Log: Death Rituals
HW #4: Haiti’s Living Dead (article on
Portal)
Discuss novel
Quiz #2: Chapters 7-12 (Spirit Catches
You)
ICA#8: Death Without Weeping article
Video Log: Taboo: Evil Spirits
HW #4 Due
ICA #9/Video Log: Salem Witch Trials
HW #5: Searching for the Truth: The
Poison Oracle Among African Foragers
and Farmers” (article on Portal)
Group Presentations next class!!
CANCELLED
Video: Identify themes of witchcraft (extra
participation points)
Review available on Portal
Video Log: Taboo: Witchcraft
Group Presentations on ethnography
Review novel
Quiz #3: Chapters 13-Afterword (A Spirit
Catches You)
ICA#10: Understanding Islam article and
questions on extremism
HW #5 Due
Review for final
Chapters 7-11 plus articles, videos, novel
Ethnography and presentation.
You will be assigned a partner or group. You will find three people (outside of class and your
family) who come from different religious backgrounds.
Conduct an ethnography (detailed description) of each person’s religious beliefs
-make sure you keep their names anonymous (use “person 1,” “person 2,” etc. or “my
neighbor,” “my friend’s father,” etc.)
Your presentation will include:
-Brief summary of each person’s beliefs
-Reasons why each person identifies with that religion (can you connect this to culture?)
-Identify religious symbols, specialists, or myths we discussed in class
-Describe one ritual each person performs and why
-Discuss similarities you can find in all three religious practices (at least 3 similarities)
Each member of the group must participate equally. The write-up of findings should be 1-page,
single-spaced, 12 point font, with a header of the group members.
Presentations should be 5-7 minutes. Please time yourself to ensure you are within this timeframe.
***************************************************************************************************
Extra Credit Options (you can only do one!) Worth up to 20 points
Option #1:
Hollywood Forever Cemetery 14th Annual Dia de los
Muertos Celebration - largest celebration of its kind in
California, November 2, 2013 (12:00pm - midnight)
323.308.4765
Hollywood
Forever
Cemetery
6000 Santa
Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Assignment:
Attend the event and create a document that shows, through pictures you take, examples of
-ritual
-symbolism
-views of death
-views of spirits
-each picture should have a brief explanation
Option #2: (you can complete this after we do chapter 10)
The Green Man Store (Modern Witchcraft/Wicca)
Address: 5712 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91601
Phone:(818) 985-2010
Hours: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
The store is very small. The best time to go is on Wednesday or Thursday at 11:00 am. You need to
complete the extra credit without bothering the staff there. You may discuss something with the
staff if you are interested in it personally, but they are not there to help you with this assignment.
Walk around the store and go on a scavenger hunt for certain items (document will be on Portal).
Describe items you find and answer questions about each.
You must obtain proof of going (picture, business card, etc.).