ANTHROPOLOGY3010A
METHODS, KNOWLEDGE AND ETHICS
FALL 2004, Instructor: Alberto Guevara
TU/TH 9: 25-10:40 am Room TH 133
Office: T H 204, Tel #: 3292521
Office Hours: Thursdays 2:00 -3:00 or by appointment
Web page: http://classes.uleth.ca
alberto.guevara@uleth.ca
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE: The aim of this course is to explore various ways
of understanding and producing anthropological knowledge. Emphasizing
epistemological and writing developments in ethnographic anthropology, the course will
focus on the fundamentals or central principles of ethnographic methodology. We will
accomplish our main objectives by reading ethnographic accounts, including one in its
entirety (“Translated Women” by Ruth Behar), and reflect on the politics surrounding
their productions. Our lectures, exercises and readings will make connections between
theory and practice and explore the way in which our theoretical assumptions influence
and shape our research. Our analysis will be informed by both past and contemporary
explorations and critiques of anthropological representation in terms of its development
(1) as an anthropological method, (2) as a form of writing, and, (3) as a process and a
product of the development of cultural, intercultural and intersubjective communication.
The course will have several practical ethnographic components, one of which requires a
presentation in class.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objectives of the course are:
A) to grasp the historical developments in ethnographic anthropology, its research
methods, goals, and evolution
B) to become acquainted with some of the central principles of anthropological
fieldwork and its representation through the analysis of ethnographic accounts
C) to familiarize ourselves with contemporary anthropological methods and writings
by learning about data gathering and production techniques, advance
bibliographic skills, and the ability to engage in oral discussions
D) to further develop our critical readings of anthropological/ethnographic
developments on cultural, historical, political and textual grounds.
REQUIRED EXTS:
Doing Cultural Anthropology: Projects for Ethnographic Data Collection
Michael V. Angrosino, Waveland Press Inc, Prospect Heights, Illinois 2002
Translated woman: Crossing the Border with Esperanza’s Story
Ruth Behar, Beacon Press, Boston 1993
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Weekly readings will be available at the reserve desk of the library/.
METHODOLOGY: The course will be based on lectures, assigned readings, exercises,
presentations, films, class discussions, and examinations. These will be facilitated by
group deliberations on issues relevant to that week’s readings
The first component of the course will look at ethnography as an intercultural dialogue. It
will examine the central principles of anthropological fieldwork methods and writings.
Throughout this section the student will develop intellectual anthropological tools to
reflect on issues surrounding ethnographic practices. We will discuss representation,
objectivity, subjectivity, ethics and ethnographic truth and the nature of anthropological
understandings.
The second component will focus on issues pertaining to the production of
ethnographies in contemporary anthropology. We will discuss topics such as the politics
of representation. This component will allow the student to develop her/his own vision of
ethnography as an anthropological method through a practical exercise. Students will be
asked to reflect on the following: What should be included in ethnography? Which
ethnographic method and writing style is more appropriate to specific topics of research?
What are the political, theoretical, methodological and ethical implications of that
particular choice? The student will choose a topic, develop a research question, do field
research and write a mini-ethnography (10 pages max). A guideline will be provided
around the fourth week of the course.
REQUIREMENT AND EVALUATION:
Students are expected to read all assigned course materials in advance and to
attend classes. Class discussions and film viewing are essential components of the course.
This point is very important because it will facilitate us in having a dynamic, interesting
and inspirational course. The ability to think critically about all the material covered is
one of the main objectives of the course. I anticipate students' input during classes.
Students' original and researched ideas and analysis will be valued in the marking
process.
There will be four examinations in this course, consisting of one in-class test, one
short essay question, one presentation, and one ethnographic research assignment. There
is no final test in this course. The in-class exam will cover he first four weeks of the
course. For the ethnographic exercise, the student is expected to show a grasp of the
epistemological and writing issues in ethnographic anthropology discussed during the
entire semester. Topic selection for the final exercise should begin around the third week
of classes.
The final grade will be calculated as follows:
Class participation and attendance
In-class exam
Short essay question
Presentation
Research assignment
20%
30%
10%
20%
20%
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POLICIES
All students should be aware of the definition and consequences of plagiarism as
set by U of L policy (p. 63). The use of “turn it in” software will facilitate the
enforcement of this policy.
SCHEDULE:
(This is a general guideline and is subject to changes at the instructor’s discretion).
WEEK ONE:
SEPTEMBER. 9
Overview of the course and introduction
WEEK TWO: Epistemology: Ways of knowing
SEPTEMBER. 14
What is the Nature of Anthropological Knowledge?
Readings:
Holy and Stuchlik “Action, Norms and Representations” (1983)
Marcus “Contemporary Problems of Ethnography in the Modern World System” 1986
SEPTEMBER 16
Michel-Rolph Trouillot “Anthropology and the Savage Slot” 1991
WEEK THREE: Research and authority:
SEPTEMBER 21
Auge “ A Sense of the Other” 1998
James, Hockey and Dawson Introduction to “After Writing Culture” 1997
SEPTEMBER 23
WEEK FOUR:
SEPTEMBER 28
SEPTEMBER 30
WEEK FIVE
OCTOBER 5
OCTOBER 7
WEEK SIX
OCTOBER 12
OCTOBER 14
WEEK SEVEN:
OCTOBER 19
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OCTOBER 21
WEEK EIGHT:
OCTOBER 26
OCTOBER 28
WEEK NINE:
NOVEMBER 2
NOVEMBER 4
WEEK TEN
NOVEMBER 9
NOVEMBER 11 (NO CLASS)
WEEK ELEVEN
NOVEMBER 16
NOVEMBER 18
WEEK TWELVE
NOVEMBER 23
NOVEMBER 25
WEEK THIRTEEN
NOVEMBER 30
DECEMBER 2
WEEK FOURTEEN
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 9
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