ANTH 114.003 -- Introduction to Cultural Anthropology – Spring 2010
Mondays and Wednesdays: 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.; Thompson 222
Professor:
David Haines
Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 1:45-2:45 p.m.
Office: Robinson B-322 (703-993-3600)
dhaines1@gmu.edu; gunston.gmu.edu/dhaines1
Course overview
This course provides an introduction to cultural and social anthropology, with an emphasis
on basic human adaptations to the environment, core social institutions (economics,
politics, kinship, religion), and the construction of meaning. The emphasis is on
non-Western societies, although there will also be discussion of the contemporary United
States for purposes of comparison.
Course requirements
1. Exams: Two during the semester examinations and one cumulative final. Exams will
be multiple choice and essay. Bring Scantron sheet (882 ES or equivalent) and “Blue
Book” (8½ x 11 inches). Make-up tests by prior arrangement only.
2. Small group ethnography project: With your assigned group: identity something worth
looking at ethnographically, look at it, and figure out what it means. Project is due as a
short joint report to the class of about ten minutes (week of March 22 and 24).
3. Individual ethnography project: Ditto, but you do it alone. Project is due as a four-page
paper at the time of the final exam (May 10).
4. Class participation, discussion sections, quizzes
Grading
20% for each of the two tests during the semester
25% for the final exam
10% for each of the two ethnography projects (group and individual)
15% for quizzes and class participation (including discussion sections)
Texts
David Haines, Cultural Anthropology
Colin Turnbull, The Forest People
Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Girl from the Coast
Helie Lee, Still Life with Rice
Remember:
Last day to drop with no tuition penalty is Tuesday, February 2
Elective withdrawal is from February 22 to March 26
Bookshop sends books back BEFORE the end of the semester
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DRC Note
If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, you should
see me and also contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474. All academic
accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.
Schedule
Notes:
“Read” means read by the beginning of that week; list of films is provisional.
1.
January 20
Course introduction; the nature of anthropology
2.
January 25 & 27
Biology, culture, and environment; adaptation
Read: Turnbull: Chapters 1 through 4
Text: Chapters 1 & 2
Film: Margaret Mead (Strangers Abroad)
3.
February 1 & 3
Foraging, hunting, and horticulture
Read: Turnbull: Chapters 5 through 10
Text: Chapters 3 & 4
Film: Sherpas (Disappearing World)
4.
February 8 & 10
Agriculture and pastoral nomadism
Read: Turnbull: Chapters 11 through 15
Text: Chapters 5 & 6
Film: Harvest of Shame
5.
February 15
Industrialism
Read: Text: Chapter 7
 Wednesday, February 17  First examination
6.
February 22 & 24
Kinship: General structures and terminology
Read: Text: Chapters 8 & 9
7.
March 1 & 3
Kinship: Family and household
Read: Text: Chapter 10
Toer: First third or so
Film: Trobriand Islanders (Disappearing World)
8.
March 8 & 10
SPRING BREAK
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9.
March 15 & 17
Economics
Read: Text: Chapter 11
Toer: Second third or so
Film: Ongka=s Big Moka (The Kawelka)
10.
March 22 & 24
Ethnography week
 Group project presentations
11.
March 29 & 31
Politics
Read: Text: Chapter 12
Toer: The remainder
12.
April 5
Catch up and review
 Wednesday, April 7  Second examination
13.
April 12 & 14
Religion
Read: Text: Chapter 13
Lee: “Rotten Fruit” to “Matron Bride”
Film: Kataragama
14.
April 19 & 21
Cognition and language
Read: Text: Chapters 14, 15, & 16
Lee: “Red Pepper” to “Chiryo”
Film: In Rwanda We Say . . .
15.
April 26 & 28
Anthropology today
Read: Text: Chapter 17 & 18
Lee: “Eight Years” to “Broken Heart”
16.
May 3
Catch-up and review for final exam
Read: Lee: “Boat” to “America”
 Monday, May 10  FINAL EXAM
1:30 – 4:15 p.m. in the regular classroom
 Monday, May 10  Individual ethnography paper due (at time of final exam)
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