Anthropology 247: Contemporary Europe
Spring 2007
Instructor Dr. Brigittine French
Office: 306 Goodnow
Office Hours: M/W/F 9:00-10:00
1:00-2:00
*and by appointment
Phone: x4816
E-mail: frenchb@grinnell.edu
Description
This is a broad survey of the contemporary anthropology of Europe. In particular, it
focuses on how anthropologists have tried to understand “modern” European societies
and transformations in them since WWI. We will pay particular attention to general
trends in European communities and their impacts upon the everyday lives of
individuals living in Europe. Specific areas of emphasis include: historical memory,
ethnicity, nationalism, supranationalism, class formation, transformations in formerly
social states, and immigration.
Readings
Berdahl, Daphne. 1999. Where the World Ended: Reunification and Identity in
the German Borderland. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Frankland, E. Gene (ed). 2006. Europe: 9th Edition. Dubuque, IA: McGraw-Hill
Company.
Herzfeld, Michael. 1987. Anthropology Through the Looking-Glass: Critical
Ethnography in the Margins of Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kelleher, William. 2004. The Troubles in Ballybogoin: Memory and Identity in
Northern Ireland. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Wikan, Unni. 2001. Generous Betrayal: The Politics of Culture in New Europe.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
*Reserve readings on pioneerweb and anthrosource.
Requirements
Exams: Two take-home essay exams (7-9 pages) will require a synthesis of
theoretical materials applied to ethnographic examples.
Supplementary Class Presentation: One group (2-3 people) presentation will be
made to the class that will augment our particular ethnographic examples by
examining a related topic in another European context.
Independent Research Project: One research project (10-12 pages) will center on
some aspect of contemporary European society and culture. An abstract and
annotated bibliography will be submitted for feedback in an individual
conference with the professor. A brief presentation of the project will be made to
the class at the end of the semester.
Discussion: Attendance and participation are essential to a successful class both
individually and collectively. Be attentive and engaged.
Evaluation
Quiz
Exams One
Exam Two
Group Presentation
Abstract and Bibliography
Final Research Paper
Discussion
5 percent
20 percent
20 percent
10 percent
10 percent
25 percent
10 percent
10 points
40 points
40 points
20 points
20 points
50 points
20 points
Students with Disabilities:
Anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or
other class requirements should inform me so that appropriate arrangements may be
made. Please see me after class or during my office hours.
Late Assignments
No late assignments will be accepted without prior approval.
“MODERN” EUROPE: ASSUMPTIONS AND ORIENTATIONS
M, Jan 22
Course Introduction
W, Jan 24
Read “Europe: Centuries of Commonalities and Conflict” p. 1-22 in
Frankland.
F, Jan 26
Quiz
M, Jan 29
Read “Europe: Centuries of Commonalities and Conflict” p. 22-45.
COLONALISM AND ITS LEGACACIES
W, Jan 31
Read “Country Report: United Kingdom and Northern Ireland”
with particular attention to p. 224-227 and “Country Report:
Ireland” in Frankland.
F, Feb 2
Read “Preface, and Introduction” in Kelleher.
M, Feb 5
Read “Mapping Moves” in Kelleher.
Film: Bloody Sunday
*Finish viewing film outside of class.
W, Feb 7
Read “Dividing Space and Making Race” in Kelleher.
F, Feb 9
Read “Living the Limit and “Organizing Against History” in
Kelleher.
M, Feb 12
Read “Working Memories” and Rendering Accounts” in Kelleher.
W, Feb 14
Class Presentations: HISTORY AND MEMORY IN EUROPEAN
CONFLICTS
INSIDE/OUTSIDE “EASTERN” EUROPE: REUNIFICATION AND
REDEFINITION
F, Feb 16
Read “The Unbearable Lightness of Democracy: Poland and
Romania after Communism” and “Eastern Germany: Getting Back
Together is so Hard” in Frankland.
M, Feb 19
Read “Country Report: Germany” in Frankland and
“Introduction” in Berdahl.
W, Feb 21
Read “Publicity, Secrecy, and the Politics of Everyday Life and
“The Seventh Station” in Berdahl.
F, Feb 23
Read, “Consuming Differences” in Berdahl.
CLASS VISIT BY AUTHOR DAPHNE BERDAHL.
ATTEND BERDAHL LECTURE AT 4:15.
M, Feb 26
Read “Borderlands,” and “The Dismembered the Border,”
PAPER ABSTRACT AND ANNOTATED BIBIOLOGRAPHY DUE
IN CLASS
W, Feb 28
Read “Epilogue: The Tree of Unity” in Berdahl.
F, Mar 2
Class Presentations: CROSSING BORDERS IN EUROPE
M, Mar 5
STUDENT PAPER CONFERENCES
W, Mar 7
STUDENT PAPER CONFERENCES
FORMING NATIONAL IDENTIES: UNITY AND DIVERSITY IN EUROPE
F, Mar 9
Read “Country Report: Greece” in Frankland and p. 1-4, 19-22, and
25-27 in Herzfeld.
M, Mar 12
Read “Aboriginal Europeans” in Herzfeld.
Video: Kypseli
W, Mar 14
Read “Country Report: Cyprus” in Frankland and “A Secular
Cosmology” in Herzfeld.
F, Mar 16
MIDTERM EXAM DUE
M, Apr 2
Read “Difference as Identity” in Herzfeld
W, Apr 4
Read “Local Names and Foreign Claims: Family Inheritance and
National Heritage on a Greek Island” by D. Sutton available at
http://www.anthrosource.net/doi/pdfplus/10.1525/ae.1997.24.2.415
F, Apr 6
Read “Nationalism Ignites EU Rebellion” and “French Ready for a
New Revolution” in Frankland.
M, Apr 9
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: EUROPEAN UNION, EUROPEAN
NATIONALISMS AND CONFLICT
IMMIGRATION AND CULTURE IN THE NEW EUROPE
W, Apr 11
Read “Country Report: Norway” and “Introduction: A Personal
Odyssey” in Wikan.
F, Apr 13
Read “Norwegians: Cooperative Individualists” by D. Caulkins in
pioneerweb.
M, Apr 16
Read “Welfare for Whom?” and “The New Norway” in Wikan.
W, Apr 18
Read “The Politics of Culture and “Gender and Identity Politics” in
Wikan.
F, Apr 20
No class/Work on final papers.
M, Apr 23
Read “A Hope for the Future” and “Post-Script” in Wikan.
FINAL RESEARCH PAPERS DUE IN CLASS.
W, Apr 25
Read “Between Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia: Some Thoughts
on the New Europe” by M. Bunzl available at
http://www.anthrosource.net/doi/pdfplus/10.1525/ae.2005.32.4.499
F, Apr 27
Read Commentaries on Bunzl handed out in class.
M, Apr 30
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS: THE NEW EUROPE
W, May 2
Read “Europe’s Balancing Act” and New Power for “Old Europe”
in Frankland.
F, May 4
Student Research Presentations
Mon, May 7 Student Research Presentations
Wed, May 9 Student Research Presentations
Fri, May 11
Course Synthesis/Final Exam handed-out
FINAL EXAM DUE AT Tuesday, May 15th at 9:00am in my box.