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CULT 326 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Full Course Title:
Social and Cultural Anthropology
Društvena i kulturna antropologija
Course Code:
Course Level/BiH cycle:
CULT 326
1st Cycle (Bachelor of Arts)
ECTS credit value:
6
Student work-load:
(Table with hours for: Lectures; Exercise; Other; Individual learning)
For the whole semester:
Length:
Faculty/School/Department:
Lectures
Tutorial /
Practical training
e.g.
Project
Individual
learning
TOTAL
45
15
30
60
150
One semester
FASS; Social and Political Sciences (SPS)
Course leader:
Assist. Prof. Dr Tuba Boz
Contact details:
Office:
e-mail:
Office hours:
Phone:
Site:
IUS main campus building
Host Study Program:
Cultural Studies
tboz@ius.edu.ba
Course status:
Pre-requisites:
None
Access restrictions:
None
Assessment:
Class attendance and participation; take-home mid-term exam; final review essay.
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Date validated:
Course aims:
Learning outcomes:
Indicative syllabus content:
Learning delivery:
Assessment Rationale:
The aims of this course are to:
1. To introduce students to history of anthropology;
2. To ensure that students are given proper knowledge of various anthropological
traditions and theories and are able to apply them in their own work;
3. To enrich students’ critical thinking, interpreting and understanding cultural and social
processes;
4. To challenge prevailing “Western” (American and European) assumptions about the
worldviews and belief systems that exist in “non-Western” societies
On successful completion of this course IUS student will be able to:
1. have a good sense of the history of anthropology and the trajectories reflected in its
key debates;
2. critically engage with its intellectual traditions;
3. have a reasonable command of the strengths and weaknesses of different theories;
4. apply the main conceptual paradigms in their research projects.
The course, which examines key theoretical concepts and approaches in anthropology, strives to
provide students with knowledge of inventive moments in anthropology and to equip them with
a critical perspective on the creative process of theory building. The course follows two parallel
trajectories. One, which focuses on the history of the discipline, traces developments within the
British, American and French schools of anthropology. Spanning the late 19th century and
contemporary works, it combines study of works produced by pioneers like Boas, Malinowski and
Levi-Strauss with more recent work such as poststructuralist theory and contemporary debates
on modernity, ethnographic fieldwork, globalization and transnationalism. The second aspect of
the course is a thematic scrutiny of key themes and debates that shaped the discipline. These
include culture and nature, grand evolutionary schemes and bottom up research of particular
case studies, myth and ritual, structure and agency, culture and history, meaning and power.
We will begin each class with an introductory lecture that treats the themes and reading for that
week. Each student will have the responsibility of offering a brief (no more than 5-10 minute)
comment on the readings at the beginning of the class session once during the semester. The
second part should function to promote class discussion and student-led conversation about the
various reading assignments and other materials. A number of classes will consist of group
activities dedicated to applying the previously discussed theories to selected case studies.
Class participation: This course depends on active participation from all students. This means
they must come to class having read the assigned readings and share critical evaluation of the
readings. Active participation of the students in the class discussions allows to assess their ability
to critically engage with the readings as well and to monitor and encourage their respectful,
argument-based participation in discussions. The assessment will be based on number of times
student takes up the floor during the class discussions, originality of the examples and arguments
used, clarity and relevance of the interventions to the discussion.
Mid-term Take Home Exam: Students will be given 48 hours to submit electronically short essay
(2 pages) answers to two questions provided by the instructor. The questions will be strictly
related to the material covered: one question will concern theory and one will require practical
application. The exam will be open-book and will allow to asses students’ ability to critically
engage with the material as well as to apply it to their own case studies.
Assessment Weighting:
Essential Reading:
Final review essay: The final assessment for the course consists of writing a critical review of one
or two anthropological monographs (6-8 pages). Students will be required to analyse the
monograph using the theories, methods and insights gained during the course. Students will be
provided with a list of ten books to choose from, however their own suggestions will be accepted
once discussed with the instructor.
Reading and Participation: 35%
Midterm Take Home Exam: 30%
Final Review Essay: 35%.
See course schedule for detailed list of mandatory readings. Essential reading consist of collection
of journal articles and book chapters that will be delivered to the students in electronic form
(either by e-learning site, e-mail or Drop Box)
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Recommended readings:
Additional/recommended reading:
1. Adam Kuper. 1996. Anthropology and Anthropologists. The Modern British School.
London/NY: Routledge.
www.aaanet.org (The American Anthropological Association)
Intranet web reference:
Important notes:
Students have to make sure to avoid plagiarism or even the vague possibility of plagiarism. Note
that copying from the internet or even taking ideas from internet sources without proper citation
is also a form of plagiarism, not only copying from paper based texts. Students are expected to
paraphrase the arguments whenever possible and add proper citations from the original text.
Each final essay will be checked against anti-plagiarism software.
Failing to gain at least 30% from each assignment results in failing the course (that is students are
expected to undergo each of the four assignment forms (class participation, position paper, oral
presentation, final essay). Absence from class is allowed only with strong reason. Students are
allowed one “free miss” but more than one absence without documentation will negatively affect
the grade.
Absence from class is allowed only with strong reason. Students are allowed two “free misses”
but more than two absences without documentation/prior information will negatively affect the
grade. Similarly, classroom policy strictly requires of students respectful behaviour towards the
co-students. Failing in showing respect and attention to other students’ contribution may result
in lowering the participation grade.
Language policy: lack of sophistication in written/spoken English will not result in lower grading
as long as the arguments made by the student are understandable. Emphasis will be made on
structure of the argument/paper/presentation, logical flow and originality of contribution.
Quality Assurance:
Improving grades: students aiming at the highest grades (A, A-) but failing to assure the
necessary grade weight by class participation and/or mid-term exam may be given a chance to
improve performance by submitting additional written assignments. This is to be discussed with
the instructor individually.
Students will be provided written feedback for each of the assignments. Students unsatisfied with
the assessment of their written work (mid-term exam and final essay) will have a chance to rewrite them and submit for second examination provided they met the deadlines. Students, who
wish to increase the part of the grade coming from in-class participation may be given additional
tasks. Students are encouraged to consult their work in progress with the course leader during
the office hours or through e-mail communication (contact details and office hours will be
confirmed during the first class).
Course Schedule:
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Week Lesson /
Date
1
1
Topics to be covered
Introduction to the course’s
aims and objectives; getting
to know each other
Class activities
Problems/
Assignments
(Homework)
Readings
Course syllabus will be presented, its
aims and objectives explained and any
questions students have regarding the
course will be answered.
1. Identify the main
aims and objectives
of the course.
2. Explain how the
course can be useful
for their academic
career.
Students will be asked to present their
motivation for taking the course as well
as their academic background/interests
so that the applicability/usefulness of the
course can be assessed.
1
2
2
3
What is anthropology
anyway? Disciplinary
Boundaries and Academic
Others
Disciplinary boundaries and origins of
anthropology will be discussed
“The Psychic Unity of
Theory of social evolutionism will be
Mankind”: Social Evolutionism
analysed and historicized.
and the Concept of Primitive
Society I
Concept of ‘armchair anthropologist’ will
be explained.
Learning objectives
(After this lesson
student will be able to:)
What is
Anthropology?
The American
Anthropologic
al Association
Definition of
the Discipline
www.aaanet.o
rg/anthbroc.ht
m
1. Know difference
between anthropology
and other academic
disciplines
Tylor, Edward.
1871. Primitive
Culture. Chapter
1
1. Understand
concept of social
evolutionism
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2
4
3
5
“The Psychic Unity of
Theory of social evolutionism will be
Mankind”: Social Evolutionism
scrutinised and approached from the
and the Concept of Primitive
perspective of modern anthropology.
Society II
Trouillot, MichelRolph. 1991.
Anthropology
and the Savage
Slot In Fox, ed.,
Recapturing
Anthropology.
Pp. 17-44.
1. Critically engage
with the theory of
social evolutionism
2. Formulate
arguments in favor
and against the
theory.
The Early American School:
Franz Boas and Cultural
Relativism
Boas, Franz.
2004 (1920).
The Methods of
Ethnology. In:
MgGee, John
and Warms,
Richard (ed).
Anthropological
Theory: An
Introductory
History. Pp. 132140.
1.Understand theory of
cultural relativism and its
importance for
anthropology
Malinowski,
Bronislaw. 2004
(1922). The
Essentials of the
Kula.
1. Explain theory of
functionalism
2. Understand the
importance of
Malinowski’s contribution
Theory of cultural relativism will be
presented and contrasted with social
evolutionism.
Life and importance of Franz Boas will
be discussed.
Watching Youtube clip: Franz Boas
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6
British Social Anthropology:
Malinowski I
Malinowski’s introduction of ethnographic
method will be discussed.
Watching youtube clip: Bronislaw
Theory of functionalism will be analysed
Malinowski
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7
British Social Anthropology:
Malinowski II
Group exercise: applying theory of
Write one
functionalism to a selected contemporary page long
phenomenon
description of
the in-class
group
1. Apply theory of
functionalism to a
contemporary
phenomenon
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exercise
4
8
British Social Anthropology :
Radcliffe-Brown
Radcliffe-Brown’s work and life will be
presented and contrasted with work of
Malinowski.
5
9
Claude Lévi-Strauss and
French Structuralism I
Theory and method of structuralism will
be presented and contrasted with
functionalism.
Life and contribution of Lévi-Strauss will
be presented.
Watching youtube clip: Lévi-Strauss
5
10
Claude Lévi-Strauss and
French Structuralism II
In-class group exercise: applying
structuralism to a contemporary
phenomenon
6
11
Structure and Anti-Structure:
Liminality, Hybridity and
Work and contribution of Mary Douglas
will be presented.
Adam Kuper.
1996. RadcliffeBrown. In:
Anthropology
and
Anthropologists.
The Modern
British School.
Pp. 35-65.
1. Describe the
contribution of
Radcliffe-Brown’s
work
Johnson,
Christopher.
2003. The Place
of Anthropology.
In Claude LéviStrauss. The
Formative
Years. Pp. 1230.
1. Explain theory of
structuralism and how
it differs from
functionalism
Lévi-Strauss,
Claude. 1963.
Structural
Analysis in
Linguistics and
Anthropology. In:
Structural
Anthropology 1.
Pp. 31-54.
1. Apply theory of
functionalism to a
contemporary
phenomenon
Douglas, Mary.
1992 [1966].
Purity and
1. Understand
importance of
Douglas’s contribution
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Boundaries
Questions of hybridity and boundaries
will be discussed.
Concept and functionality of taboos will
be analysed.
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The interpretative turn:
Anthropology as a Cultural
Hermeneutics I
Hermeneutics approach in anthropology
will be explored. Work of Clifford Geertz
will be discussed.
Danger: An
Analysis of the
Concepts of
Pollution and
Taboo.Introducti
on, Chapter 1- 3.
to anthropology
Geertz, Clifford.
1973. The
Interpretation of
Cultures.
Chapter
1. Understand the
concept of
hermeneutics
2. Explain the concept
of taboo and the role it
plays in society
1. Pp. 3-30.
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The interpretative turn:
Anthropology as a Cultural
Hermeneutics II
Anthropological approach to culture will
be discussed. The concept of culture will
be critically analysed.
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14
Mid-term summary I
Review class of the theories and
methodologies studied so far.
Class activity: group game
Kuper, Adam.
Culture. The
Anthropologist’s
Account.
Chapter 3
In groupsprepare to the
review game.
1. Describe the notion
of culture and cultural
systems in
anthropology
1. Be able to
synthetize theories
and anthropological
traditions studied so
far.
2. Know main
classical theorists of
anthropology and their
contribution.
3. Critically engage
with the studied
theories, point out
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their strengths and
limitations.
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TAKE HOME EXAM
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16
History and Power I
Question of power in anthropological
research will be discussed.
Notion of Eurocentric research will be
analysed.
9
17
History and Power II
Question of power in anthropological
research will be discussed
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18
The Reflexive Turn: Writing
Culture and Against Culture I
The problem of representation in
anthropology will be analysed.
Concept of culture will be critically
scrutinized.
The ‘reflexive turn’ in anthropology and
its importance will be presented.
Asad, Talal
(1973)
Anthropology
and the Colonial
Encounter
1. Understand political
implications of
anthropology
Wolf, Eric (2001)
Facing Power –
Old Insights,
New Questions,
in Wolf, Eric
Pathways of
Power: Building
an Anthropology
of the Modern
World, pp. 38398
1. Place anthropology
within the West/East
and South/West
divides
Clifford, James.
1986.
Introduction:
Partial Truths.
In: Clifford,
James and
Marcus,
George E. (eds).
Writing Culture.
The Poetics and
Politics of
1. Describe ‘reflexive
turn’ in anthropology
and its importance.
2. Discuss the issue of
representation in
ethnographic work.
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Ethnography.
Pp. 1-26.
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The Reflexive Turn: Writing
Culture and Against Culture I
Criticism of euro-centric anthropology will
be discussed.
Questions of orientalism and
Occidentalism will be analysed.
Abu-Lughod,
Lila. 1991.
Writing against
Culture. In: Fox,
Richard (ed).
Recapturing
1. Understand
concepts of
orientalism and
occidentalism
Anthropology.
Working in the
Present. Pp.
137-162.
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Anthropology in the age of
globalization I
Concept of globalization will be explored
and historicized.
Methodological challenges for
anthropological work in the era of
globalization will be discussed (including
multi-sited ethnography, extended case
method).
Question of ‘place’ and ‘site’ in the
globalizing world will be discussed.
Appadurai,
Arjun. 1996.
Disjuncture and
Difference in the
Global Cultural
Economy.
In Modernity at
Large: Cultural
Dimensions of
Globalization
1. Explain the concept
of globalization and its
implications for
anthropology.
2. Understand
difference between
multi-sited
ethnography and
extended case
method.
3. Describe the
changing notion of
place and site in
anthropology.
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21
Anthropology in the age of
Relationship between economy, culture
Comaroff, John
and Jean. 2001.
1. Describe
relationship between
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globalization II
and human rights will be discussed.
Relationship between ‘local’ and ‘global’
will be critically analysed.
Inroduction. In
Millenial
Capitalism and
the Culture of
Neoliberalism
globalization,
economy and culture.
2. Understand the
relationship between
‘local’ and ‘global’.
Nancy ScheperHughes, “The
Global Traffic in
Human Organs,”
in The
Anthropology of
Globalization
Reader, pp. 270308.
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22
Anthropolgy and gender
Anthropological contributions to study of
gender will be presented.
Concept of gender as socially
constructed will be analyzed.
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23
Gender, family, kinship
Issues of gender, family and kinship will
be analysed cross-culturally using
examples from different societies around
the world.
Leyla Keogh
(2006)
“Globalizing
Post-Socialism:
Mobile Mothers
and
Neoliberalism on
the Margins of
Europe”
Anthropological
Quarterly, vol.
79: 432-461
1. Understand the
concept of gender and
how it is socially
constructed.
2. Describe patterns in
changing gender roles
and gender
boundaries.
1. Describe
relationship between
gender, family and
kinship and their
different variations
across the world.
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24
Approaching ‘race ‘ I
Watching film: Rabbit-Proof Fence
(Phillip Noyce, dir. 2003)
Visit: Race:
Are we so
different?
1. Describe the
dynamics and effects of
racial policy on a society.
http://www.un
derstandingra
ce.org/home.h
tml
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25
Approaching ‘race’ II
Rabbit-Proof Fence will be discussed.
Concept of ‘race’ will be analysed from
the theoretical and case-study stand
points.
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Approaching ethnicity I
Concept of ethnicity will be discussed.
Examples of reification in social research
will be analysed.
American
Anthropologic
al Association
Statement on
Mukhopadhyay,
Carol C, et.al.
2007. Culture
and
Classification:
"Race."
Race is
http://www.aa
Culturally Real.
anet.org/stmts
In How Real is
/racepp.htm
Race? Pp. 99 –
113.
Rogers Brubaker
‘Ethnicity without
groups’
1. Understand
limitations of
methodological
nationalism
2. Explain limitations
of reification in social
research.
Fredrik Barth
‘Ethnic Groups
and Boundaries’
1. Explain how
ethnicity is socially
and culturally
constructed.
Methodological nationalism will be
explained.
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Approaching ethnicity II
Anthropological contributions to study of
ethnicity will be presented.
Ethnicity as social and cultural construct
will be explained.
1. Deconstruct the
concept of race and
how it is socially and
culturally constructed.
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Processuality of ethno-cultural identities
will be scrutinized.
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29
Ethical questions in
anthropology
Native anthropologist?
Applied anthropology will be presented.
Ethical issues related to conducting
research will be discussed.
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Summary and course
evaluation
Review of main concepts and theories
2. Describe variety of
ethical challenges in
anthropological
research and potential
solutions to them
Kirin Narayan,
How Native Is a
"Native"
Anthropologist?
Concept of ‘native anthropologist’ will be
presented and discussed.
Students will be encouraged to reflect on
their own positionality and possibilities to
apply anthropological approaches in
their academic work.
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1. Understand what
applied anthropology
is and be able to give
examples.
The Society
for Applied
Anthropology
http://www.sfa
a.net/
1. Reflect on their own
positionality as
researchers
Final essay
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