Anthropology 1010
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
M, W, F 3:00--3:50 Old Main 225
Fall 2013
Instructor Dr. Bonnie Glass-Coffin,
Office Old Main #245E
Office hours W 1:30-2:20, Th 10:00-noon
e-mail bonnie.glasscoffin@usu.edu
TA’s Ammon Hansen and Mariah Bryant
Classroom: Old Main 225
TA office hours: TBA
TA e-mail: TBA
Required text:
Miller, Barbara (2011). Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World (3rd edition, Pearson)
Reserve readings (available on Canvas)
www.publicanthropology.net (there is a $9.95 fee to purchase materials from this website)
Course rationale and assessment guidelines:
What makes us uniquely human? How are we like and how are we different than our
neighbors down the street or across the ocean? How do we adapt to the changing environment in
which we live so that our children will survive into the next generation? How much does this
survival depend upon individual creativity and/or the constraints placed upon individuals by the
societies in which they live? What can we learn from the strategies for survival used by ancient
peoples to help us face the challenges of the future?
As the holistic study of humankind, these are the questions which anthropology asks and
answers. As we shall see in this class "culture" (the socially shared knowledge, behavior, and
material products that are learned rather than inherited and passed-on between generations) is an
integral part of this discussion. By studying how groups of people have used their cultural
heritage to help spread the risks of survival, we can also gain insight into the common humanity
that we share with people who, on the surface, look and sound very different from ourselves. As
part of your learning experience, this course will challenge you to step beyond the perspectives
you inherently know to be "normal" to view the world with new eyes.
In accordance with anthropology program assessment guidelines, this course will teach
you about the nature, intent, and scope of cultural anthropology, introduce you to cultures in
different world regions, and help you develop recognition of and respect for human differences.
By the end of the term, you should be familiar with emic and etic approaches to measurement
and analysis and be familiar with ethnographic interviewing as a key method in cultural
anthropology. You will gain experience communicating effectively in oral and written forms,
and learn to think critically about course materials.
EXAMS: Bi-weekly quizzes (worth 20 points each) will be given ON-LINE. These will help
you become familiar with key concepts and can serve as a good study guide for the final exam.
A comprehensive FINAL EXAM (worth 50 points) will be administered during finals week.
Format will be discussed in class.
IN-CLASS DISCUSSIONS: Weekly in-class discussions (worth up to 10 points each) over
relevant topics will add to your understanding of how issues discussed in lecture and in the text
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relate to the "real-world." You will be divided into groups at the beginning of the term for the
purposes of these discussions. To receive full credit for participation in these in-class
discussions, you will need to do 2 things. First, you read the assigned article from the
accompanying reader and prepare for class discussion. To do this, you will, prior to the start of
class on the day of the discussion, post on Canvas two or three questions or comments about the
article that you would like to bring up during the discussion (these postings, when they
demonstrate critical thinking, understanding of the article’s key points, and timely completion
are worth up to 5 points). Second, you come to class on the day of discussion and actively
participate (your presence is noted by the group-leader on a sign-up sheet that is turned in with
the group-leader’s discussion paper and is awarded an additional 5 points). You must be inclass on the day of the discussion to receive these points. No exceptions can be made to this
policy because these points are reflective of your in-class participation in the discussion.
Fifteen discussions are offered...students are required to participate in 12 of these. Participation
in additional discussions will be counted as extra-credit. (120 points possible + up to 30 points
extra credit)
PUBLIC ANTHROPOLOGY/COMMUNITY ACTION OP-ED PIECE
During September, we will use the internet to draw students at various universities together into
an intellectual community and to contribute, meaningfully, to the application of anthropology to
a “real world ethical issue.” Students will register to participate in this activity at
www.publicanthropology.net (there is a $9.95 charge for participation in this website). During
this “Action Period” every student will write an Op-Ed -- or opinion piece of roughly three to
seven hundred words (1-2.5 pages) that express your views on the steps that should be taken to
resolve the ethical issue the project is addressing. Op-Ed pieces written by each student are
judged by students at other universities and each participating student will have the opportunity
to rank/grade op-ed pieces of up to 4 students at other universities. This semester, students will
be writing opinion pieces about whether or not anthropologists should be accountable to public
audiences for the work that they do. Past participants have played a critical role in encouraging
large scale institutions to move toward more ethical actions in anthropology and it is anticipated
that this semester’s project will have similar impact. The project is described in detail on the
website and will also be discussed in class. Students complete the entire project (writing the oped, grading 4 op-ed pieces of other students, and on-line voting for their favorite op-ed piece) in
order to get credit for the assignment. Up to 30 points possible for participation in this project.
EXTRA-CREDIT
There is extra credit discussion built into the course syllabus (15 discussions possible but only 12
are required).
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE:
Bi-weekly quizzes
In-class discussions
Final exam
Op-ed assignment
Total points possible:
100
120
50
30
300
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(Up to 50 points possible extra credit)
Late/Make-up Assignment Policy:
In-class discussion points cannot be made up. Make-up of all other assignments is at
instructor discretion and must generally be arranged for by students requiring accommodations
prior to the due-date scheduled. Late assignments may be accepted, at instructor discretion, but
frequently result in a point penalty.
ASSESSMENT GUIDEINES:
Details about knowledge and skills students will acquire as a result of taking this class (in
accordance with Anthropology Assessment Guidelines) are listed for each week in supplemental
materials available on Blackboard.
ADA and FERPA:
IN COOPERATION WITH THE DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER, reasonable
accommodation will be provided for students with disabilities. Please meet with the instructor
during the first week of class to make arrangements. Alternative format print materials, large
print, audio, diskette or Braille, will be available through the Disability Resource Center.
The Family Education Right to Privacy Act prohibits grades, graded-essays, or any other form
of graded assignment from being released by phone or from being placed in a public setting (e.g.
outside the classroom, etc.) except with explicit written permission from the student in question.
Course Outline:
Week #1 (Aug 26, Aug 28, Aug 30)
Reading assignment: Ch. 1 of text
Monday: Introduction to class: The Scope of Anthropology and the Definition of Culture
Wednesday: emics, etics, cultural relativism and ethnocentrism.
Friday: In-class discussion: "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”
Week #2 (Sept 4, 6)
Reading assignment: Chapter 2 of text
Monday: NO CLASS…LABOR DAY
Wednesday: Introduction to fieldwork methods in cultural anthropology
Friday: Discussion of “Eating Christmas in the Kalahari,”
Week #3 (Sept 9, 11, 13)
Reading assignment: Ch. 3 of text.
Monday: N!ai, Story of a !Kung Woman
Wednesday: Introduction to Economics:
Friday: Discussion Jared Diamond’s “Worst Mistake” Quiz #1 due
Week #4 (Sept 16, 18, 20)
Reading assignment: Chapter 3 of text, review
Monday: Lecture, Exchange and Consumption
Wednesday: In-class discussion “Prospects for Anthropological Tourism in Bushmanland”
Friday: N!ai video, part two and discussion
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Week #5 (Sept 23, 25, 27)
Reading assignment: Chapter 4 of text.
Monday: Lecture: reproduction and human development
Wednesday: In-class discussion "Unmasking Tradition”
Friday: Panel discussion on sexual identity, TBA
Week #6 (Sept 30, Oct 2, 4)
Reading assignment: Chapter 5 of text
Monday: Quiz #2 due and Introduction to Medical Anthropology
Wednesday: Illness and Healing: Four Approaches to the study of Medical Anthropology
Friday: Discussion "A Woman’s Curse?"
Week #7 (Oct 7, 9, 11)
Reading assignment: Chapter 6 of text.
Monday: Introduction to kinship systems
Wednesday: Video: Strange Relations and begin discussion of kinship systems
Friday: Discussion: “Cultural Tradition and Law Collide”
Week #8 (Oct 14, 16, 17)
Reading assignment: Chapter 6 of text, continued
Monday: Discussion "Life without Fathers or Husbands"
Wednesday: Domestic Groups
Friday: Discussion of domestic groups
Week #9 (Oct 21, 23, 25)
Reading assignment: Chapter 7 of text.
Monday: Quiz #3 due and Lecture:
Wed Discussion: "Society and Sex Roles
Lecture and "Who am I" exercise and Youtube “short”
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXcgPlLMRhg)
Week #10 (Oct 28, 30, Nov 1)
Reading assignment: Chapter 8 of text
Monday: Nations and Politics
Wednesday: discussion "New Prosperity Brings Conflict to Indian Land.”
Friday: Video: “When the Mountains Tremble”
Week #11 (Nov 4, 6, 8)
Reading assignment: Chapter 9 of text
Monday: Language and Communication, BEGINNING OF COMMUNITY ACTION
ASSIGNMENT. See http://www.publicanthropology.org/CAW/General/InformationalMaterials.htm for details.
Wednesday: Video: American Tongues
Friday: Discussion "Should English Be the Law”
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Week #12 (Nov 11, 13, 15)
Reading assignment: Chapter 10 of text.
Monday: Quiz #4 due Introduction to Religion
Wednesday: Discussion: "Baseball Magic,” END OF COMMUNITY ACTION
ASSIGNMENT
Friday: Instructor presentation
Week #13 (Nov 18 ONLY)
Reading assignment:Chapter 11 of text.
Monday: “Body Art”
Wed.-Fri. THANKSGIVING BREAK, END OF COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT IS
Nov 20th.
Week #14 (Nov 25, 27, 29)
Reading assignment: Chapter 12 of text
Monday: Migration and globalization
Wed: Film: “Metal and Melancholy”
Fri: Quiz #5 and “Bolivia and Cocaine”
Week #15 (Dec 2, 4, 6)
Reading assignment: Chapter 13 of text:
Monday: People defining development
Wednesday: Discussion "Forest Development the Indian Way,"
Friday: In-class study session
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, DEC. 11th, 1:30-3:20 p.m.
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