Anthropology 1000B
Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology
SPRING 2005, Instructor: Alberto Guevara
MWF 1:00-1:50, Room TH 280
Office: Turcotte Hall 204,
Tel number: 3292521
Email: alberto.guevara@uleth.ca
Office Hours: 2-3, MWF or by appointment
Objectives of the course:
This course, a general introduction to social and cultural anthropology, will look
into the ways anthropologists go about understanding and studying cultures. How do
people make sense of their environment? How do symbols and language shape our
perception of the world? What kinds of power relations exist between peoples of the
world?
The course will provide students with an overview of the basic analytical tools and
theoretical approaches utilized in the discipline of anthropology and introduce them to a
variety of social and cultural institutions that we, as humans, have constructed and
continue to construct as active participants in a changing world. The goal of the course is
to familiarize students with the development of modern anthropology and at the same
time to critically look at the role anthropology plays in the study of the modern world.
Texts required:
These will be available at the bookstore and on reserve at the library.
1. Miller, Barbara D.; Van Esterik, John; Van Esterik, Penny (eds.). Cultural
Anthropology, 2nd Canadian Edition. Toronto, Pearson, 2005.
2. Angeloni, Elvio (editor). Annual Editions/Anthropology 04/05. McGrawHill/Dushkin
Methodology and evaluation:
The course will be based on assigned readings, lectures, films, class discussions
and examinations. These will be facilitated by group deliberations of relevant issues (to
that week’s readings), and sometimes reported in the mass media. Students are expected
to attend classes having read all assigned course materials in advance. This point is very
important because it will facilitate us in having a dynamic and interesting course.
There will be four in-class examinations. The exams will not be cumulative,
and will cover only the material from lectures, readings and films since the last exam. In
addition each student will write a short (essay type) film review of no more than five
1
pages. The student should use the concepts, terms and the anthropological perspectives
learned in our class discussions and the textbooks to critically assess the film. Before you
choose one of the films shown in class, please consult with me about a possible topic. See
handout (first week of class).
10 percent of the final grade for this class will be based on “pop assignments.”
Including group work and/or short individual responses, these “pop assignments” will be
completed in class and are worth 2-3% each. The purpose of these activities is to
facilitate spontaneous informed analysis and debate on cultural materials. Attendance and
participation will be monitored through these assignments.
Policies
If a student must miss an exam or class due to illness or family emergency, the
absence must be justified to the instructor with the original copy of a medical certificate,
doctor’s note, or other official documents.
All students should be aware of the definition and consequences of plagiarism as
set by U of L policy (p. 63 in the calendar). This policy will be systematically enforced.
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
First exam
20%
Second exam
20%
Third exam
20%
Fourth exam
20%
Film review paper 10%
Pop assignments
10%
Official evaluation scheme
A+ 95-100
B+ 80-84
C+ 65-69
D 50-54
A 90-94
A- 85-89
B 75-79
B- 70-74
C 60-64
C- 55-59
F 49 and below
SCHEDULE:
(This is a general guideline and is subject to changes at the instructor’s discretion).
PART ONE: ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF CULTURE
January 7: Introduction and overview of the course
Readings: none
January 10, 12, (14 and 17 no classes), 19: Key anthropological concepts and
practices
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Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 1, Annual Editions: Napoleon A. Chagnon and Richard
B. Lee
Video: ‘Couple in the Cage”
January 21, 24 and 26: Methods in Cultural Anthropology: fieldwork, cultural shock
and ethical issues
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 2, Annual Editions: Richard Kurin and Bohannan
Review
January 28: FIRST EXAM
PART TWO: SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CULTURE
January 31, February 2, and 4: Religion, Magic and Ritual
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 12, Additional reading: TBA
Video: “Witchcraft Among the Azande”
February 7, 9: Kinship dynamics
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 8, Annual Editions: Ernestine Friedl, Clifford Geertz
February 11, 14, 16: Marriage and family: domestic Groups
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 9, Annual Editions: Melvyn C. Goldstein, Serena Nanda,
and Nicholas D. Kristof
Review
Film: “When Strangers Reunite”
February 18: SECOND EXAM
February 21—26: Reading Week (no classes)
PART THREE: FORMS OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
February 28 and March 2: Cultural anthropology and economic systems
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 3, Annual Editions: John Bodley, Jared Diamond
March 4, 7, 9: Culture and consumption
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 4, Annual Editions: Ron Suskind
Video: TBA
March 11, 14: Social groups and social stratification
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 10
Review
March 16, 18, 21: Politics, conflict, and social order
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 11, Annual Editions: Ettagale Blauer, David Counts, and
Lappe and Collins
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Video: Skin Deep
March 23: THIRD EXAM
March (25 and 28 no classes)
PART FOUR: SYMBOLIC SYSTEMS
March 30 and April 1, 4: Communications: language, thought and society
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 13, Annual Editions: William D. Lutz, Deborah Tannen
April 6, 8, 11: People on the move: anthropology and migration
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 15
Film TBA
April 13, 15: Expressive culture, art, play and symbolism
Readings: Miller et al.: Chapter 14, Annual Editions: George Gmelch
Review
April 18: FOURTH EXAM
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