Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology 2250.001
Fall 2009
MWF 2:00 – 2:50
Instructor: Jennifer Chase, PhD
Office: Chilton Hall, 330N
Email:Jennnifer.Chase@unt.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:30-4:00, Wednesdays 10:30-12:00, and by appt
Course Description:“think like an anthropologist”
This course introduces students to the field of sociocultural anthropology—the study of
human cultures in their diversity and variation. Rather than providing a collection of facts
about other cultures, however, this class attempts to provide a sense of the general
approach anthropologists take when they study another culture. In other words, it focuses
on how to ask intelligent questions, rather than providing an inventory of answers. Its aim
is to lead you to “think like an anthropologist” as you reflect on other cultures as well as
your own.
Anthropology poses challenges to many of our existing beliefs. As the study of other
people’s worldviews, anthropology often calls into question things that we normally take
for granted or presume to be natural. To truly understand other cultures and cultural
diversity, we have to begin by looking at our own cultural assumptions and how these
shape our view of the world. These include assumptions you may not even recognize as
“cultural” but may currently take for granted as “natural”, as part of your common sense.
As a result, the course begins by looking from an anthropologist’s perspective at some
key themes in Western culture. We will look at a range of concepts and topics that
anthropologists study, including ideas about nature, biology, race, ethnicity, family,
kinship, gender and sexuality, reproduction, body, consumption, and globalization. Case
studies are drawn from studies from around the world. The purpose of juxtaposing such
disparate examples is to challenge you to examine critically your own “common sense”
assumptions about the world, society, and human nature, through an encounter with
anthropology.
Required Readings
Ferraro, Gary and Susan Andreatta. 2008. Cultural Anthropology: An Applied Perspective
(8th edition), Wadsworth Cenage Learning: Belmont.
Assigned articles are available on Blackboard.
Course objectives
1) To introduce students to the basic concepts and methods of sociocultural
anthropology
2) To expose students to the richness and diversity of human life as it has been
lived in the past and present
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3) To develop and encourage critical thinking skills, especially as related to
living in a diverse and globalizing society
4) To make students aware of the contributions of anthropology to public
discourse and public policy
5) To make students aware of the ethical dimensions of anthropology and the
other social sciences
Attendance and Class Participation
Your regular attendance is required inasmuch as I will randomly give four quizzes during
the course of the semester. I also encourage you to attend all classes since exam material
will come from lectures, films, and the assigned readings. Please note that I am not
responsible for sending you copies of the lectures. I advise you instead to have one or two
contacts in class from whom you can get notes if you have to miss a lecture.
Classroom Policies
1. READINGS: I do expect that you will have completed each day’s reading before
the lecture.
2. TECHNOLOGY:
a. All cell phones are to be turned off, or placed on vibrate. If you are
expecting an important call, then please quietly leave the classroom and
take the call outside.
b. Laptops are fabulous inventions and distractions. You are required to
perform all non-class related emailing, surfing, messaging, etc. OUTSIDE
of class. I reserve the right to ban laptops should they become more of a
distraction and less of a learning tool.
3. MAKING UP EXAMS: There will be no make-up exams unless I am approached
at least 2 weeks before the scheduled exam date with a reasonable excuse. I
reserve the right to determine what counts as “reasonable.”
4. REACHING ME: The best way to reach me is via email, and I require 24 hours to
respond to any emails sent between Monday and Friday. Over the weekends and
on holidays I require 48 hours to respond. Please include the name of the course
you are taking with me in the body of your email.
5. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: The Department of Anthropology does not
tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or helping others to cheat. I am furthermore of a
mind that your integrity as a person is ALWAYS worth more than getting an “A”
in one course – choosing to not cheat and perhaps get a lower grade is choosing to
be a person of whom you can be proud. Students suspected of any of these will be
provided the opportunity for a hearing; a guilty finding will merit an automatic
“F” in the course. For information on the University’s policies regarding
academic integrity and dishonesty, see the UNT Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities, http://www.unt.edu/csrr/
6. ADA: The Anthropology Department does not discriminate based on an
individual’s disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our
program provides academic adjustments or help to individuals with disabilities,
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and attempts will be made to meet all certified requirements. Please see me if you
have a documented disability so that appropriate arrangements can be made to
help you get the most out of this class.
Evaluation
Four (4) quizzes over lectures, films, and readings will be given in lecture. The quizzes
will be open book, open-note, and are designed to give you a preview of how I phrase
questions and how I grade before you have to take an exam from me.
There will be three (3), non-cumulative exams. All three exams will be comprised of
multiple choice, short-answer, and short essay questions.
A mini ethnography is due at the beginning of the lecture on Wednesday, November 25.
More information will be handed out when the deadline approaches. The mini
ethnography must be 4-5 pages long, typed, double-spaced, standard margins (no more
than one inch on any side), medium font (10-12 point). This assignment may not be
turned in late unless a Dean’s, Medical, or other University-approved excuse for absence
is provided in writing to me.
Summary of evaluation:
Method of Evaluation
4 quizzes
3 exams
Mini-ethnography
Date
Randomly given in lecture
Sept 28, Oct 23, Dec 14
Nov 23
Worth
5% each, 20% total
15% each, 45% total
35%
All grades will be assigned based on the following grading scale:
90-100%
80-89%
70-79%
60-69%
59-under
A
B
C
D
F
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES Aug 28 and 31, Sept 2: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY, THE CONCEPT OF CULTURE.
READING: Ferraro, Chapters 1 (skim pgs.1-10, read 11-22 more carefully) and 2.
Bohannan, “Shakespeare in the Bush”
Sept 2 and 4: SUBJECTS AND METHODS.
READING: Ferraro, Chapter 5
Kottak, “Before: The Sixties”
Sterk, “Tricking and Tripping”
Miner, “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”
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Sept 9, 11: OVERVIEW OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY
READING: Ferraro, Chapter 4
Sept 14, 16, 18: CLASSIFYING SOCIETIES: TRADITIONAL SUBSISTENCE
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 7, also pgs 182-186.
Sahlins, Marshall. “The Original Affluent Society”
FILM: “N!ai”
Sept 21, 23, 25: ECONOMICS, EXCHANGE, INDUSTRIALISM
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 8
Mauss, “The Exchange of Gifts”
Thompson,“Time, Work-Discipline, and Industrial Capitalism.”
FILMS: “Modern Times”
Sept 28: FIRST EXAM
Sept 30, Oct 2: THE BODY, SEX AND GENDER
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 11
Martin, “The Egg and the Sperm”
Ong, Aihwa. “Japanese Factories, Malay Workers”
Oct 5, 7, 9, 12: KINSHIP
READINGS:
Ferraro, Chapters 9, 10
Goldstein, “When Brothers Share a Wife”
Nanda, “Arranging a Marriage in India”
Kristoff, “Who Needs Love!”
FILM: “Marriages in Heaven”
Oct. 14: POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, SOCIAL CONTROL, CONFLICT RESOLUTION
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 13
Nicholson, “Meeting the Maasai”
Whiteley, “Ties that Bind”
Oct. 16: SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 12
Continue with Nicholson and Whiteley
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Oct. 19 and 21: WRAP-UP AND REVIEW FOR SECOND EXAM
Oct. 23: 2ND EXAM
Oct. 26, 28, 30: RACE, EVOLUTION AND CULTURE
READING:
Franz Boas. 1931. Race and Progress. In Race, Language, and Culture.
New York: the Free Press. 1940. pp.3-17. Available on
books.google.com.
Marks, to be announced.
Transcript of interview with Jonathan Marks. Race: The Power of an
Illusion. PBS. Availableat http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04background-01-08.htmTuesday, April 7.
FILM: “The Difference Between Us”
Nov. 2, 4, 6: RELIGION, ART, RITUAL ORNAMENTATION
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 14, 15
Sosis, “The Adaptive Value of Religious Ritual”
Del Guercio, “The Secrets of Haiti’s Living Dead”
Gmelch, “Baseball Magic”
FILM: “The Three Worlds of Bali”
Nov. 9: APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGY
READING: Ferraro, Chapter 3
Nov. 11, 13, 16: WESTERNIZATION AND COLONIALISM
READINGS: Ferraro, Chapter 16
Bodley, “The Price of Progress”
Lappe, “Why Can’t People Feed Themselves?”
Garland, “Can a Minority Language be Saved?”
FILM: “Trinkets and Beads”
Nov. 18, 20: CULTURAL REPRODUCTION/CHANGE/SURVIVAL
READINGS:
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Douglas Foley. 1990. “The Great American Football Ritual.” In
Learning Capitalist Culture, pp. 28-62.
Hurd, “Rangers by Birth”
Sandall, “What Native Peoples Deserve”
Nov. 23: Mini-Ethnography due. Wrap-up before Thanksgiving break
Nov. 25 and 27: No class (Thanksgiving)\
Nov. 30, Dec 2: FOOD AND GLOBALIZATION
READINGS:
Sidney Mintz. 1989. “The Forefathers of Crack.” Report on the
Americas22:6.
Theodore Bestor. 2000. “How sushi went global.” Foreign Policy.
Nov/Dec 2000, pp. 54-63
Carol Delaney, Chapter 7 (skip pp. 311-319)
Susan Terrio. 1998. "Crafting Grand Cru Chocolates in Contemporary
France." American Anthropologist 98:1:67-79
Dec. 4: No class
Dec 7: Review Day Dec. 14: Final Exam 1:30-3:30
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