Anthropology 1000C
The Anthropological Perspective
Fall 2005
Instructor: Dr. Catherine Kingfisher
Class Times: Tu/Thu 12:15 – 1:30
Office: TH214
Room: D634
Phone: 329-2516
Email: c.kingfisher@uleth.ca
Office hours: Wed 1:30 – 2:30, Th 1:45 – 2:45, or by arrangement
Course description and objectives
Anthropology emphasizes and investigates the essential creativity and diversity of human
beings and their cultures. “Culture” – the medium and artifact of human creativity and
diversity – is conceived by anthropology as not only constrained (by biology, the
environment, and already existing traditions), but also as both enabling and constraining of
systems of meaning, modes of social organization, and possibilities of thought and behavior.
This course provides an introduction to how anthropology as a discipline and
anthropologists as practitioners approach the nature of being human, the nature of human
culture, and the processes of ongoing continuity and change in a global context. Although
resembling a survey course to some extent, greater emphasis is placed on the role and
contributions of anthropology to our understanding of current social issues.
Required texts
Monaghan, John and Peter Just 2000 Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short
Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bowen, Elenore Smith 1954 Return to Laughter: An Anthropological Novel. New York: Anchor
Books.
Stack, Carol B. 1974 All Our Kin: Strategies for Survival in a Black Community. New York:
Harper Books.
Becker, Anne E. 1995 Body, Self, and Society: The View from Fiji. Philadelphia: University of
Pennsylvania Press.
All books may be purchased in the U of L Bookstore. Please note that the Bookstore returns
all remaining books to the publishers approximately four to six weeks into the semester, so it
is not a good idea to wait to buy your books.
Expectations and requirements
The goal of this course is to provide you with an overview of 1) anthropological perspectives
on and approaches to human culture; 2) the range of human cultural diversity; and 3) the
relevance of anthropology to contemporary social issues. Course assessment is designed with
this in mind, and includes three in-class tests and one final exam. In-class tests, to be held on
October 11, November 8, and November 24, will take the form of definition, short
answer, and multiple choice questions. These tests are not cumulative, but cover only
material presented since the last test. A study guide for each test will be provided one week
in advance.
The final exam, scheduled for December 15, is cumulative. You will be required to answer
two essay questions which ask you to discuss issues raised in Sections 8 & 9 (November 29 –
December 8) in relation to one of the three ethnographies (Bowen, Stack, or Becker). You
will be given the essay questions in class on December 8 so that you may prepare in
advance of the exam.
First test
Second test
Third test
Final exam
25%
20%
20%
35%
The grading scale for the course is as follows:
A+
B+
C+
D
95 – 100
80 – 84
65 – 69
50 – 54
A
B
C
90 – 94
75 – 79
60 – 64
ABC-
85 – 89
70 – 74
55 – 59
Very important information:
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A WebCT site will be available for you to access overheads, study guides, and grades.
Make up time for exams will be arranged under exceptional circumstances only.
Please see me ahead of time for approval, or provide a medical certificate or other
official document (in case of family emergency). Please note that there will be no
alternative arrangements made for the final exam unless you have received approval from
the Dean’s office.
I am happy to answer questions regarding procedure or logistics over the phone or
via email. However, neither medium is a replacement for attending class, and I would
much prefer that questions related to content be raised in class.
Do not be deceived by the lack of readings in Sections 8 & 9; we will be covering
material essential to the final exam.
This is a fun class in an interesting and highly socially relevant discipline. You will
learn more, do better on tests, and have more fun if you attend class regularly and do
your readings before class so that you can understand and participate in class discussion.
Lecture topics and readings
Part I: Frameworks & Concepts
1. Introduction: what is anthropology?
September 8
overview of course: goals & requirements
September 13
Monaghan & Just, Introduction
2. Encountering Others: Ethnographic Fieldwork
September 15 & 20
Bowen, Chapters 1-4
FILM: First Contact
September 22
M&J, Chapter 1; Bowen, Chapters 5-8
3. Kinship & Social Relations
September 27 & 29
M&J, Chapter 4, Bowen, Chapters 9-11
FILM: Dadi & Her Family
4. Worldview and Religion
October 4 & 6
M&J, Chapter 7, Bowen, Chapters 12-21
*OCTOBER 11: TEST 1*
5. “Culture,” “Society,” Exchange and Material Relations
October 13
M&J, Chapter 2
October 18
M&J, Chapter 3
October 20
M&J, Chapter 6
Part 2: The Relevance of Anthropology to the “Real World”
6. Racism, Poverty and the State
October 25
M&J, Chapter 5, pp 89-103; Stack, Chapter 1-2
October 27, November 1, & November 3
Stack, Chapters 3-8
FILM: Voices From the Shadows
*NOVEMBER 8: TEST 2*
7. Gender and Self in Local/Global Contexts
November 10
M&J, Chapter 8
Becker, Preface & Introduction
November 15/17
M&J, Chapter 5, pp. 103-106
Becker, Chapters 1-4
November 22
Becker, Chapters 5-6
*NOVEMBER 24: TEST 3*
8. Globalization
November 29 & December 1
No readings
FILM: Advertising Missionaries
9. Views of the West
December 6
No readings
FILM: Cricket the Trobriand Way
December 8
Conclusions; hand out essay questions
*DECEMBER 15: FINAL EXAM*