Download Cultural Anthropology - An

Summer Course 2010
SOC 35416 Introduction to Anthropology
3 credit hours
8 weeks
COURSE CO-ORDINATOR
Dr. Julia Droeber
Office hours: Wed, Thur 11-12
Email: [email protected]
TIMETABLE
Lectures:
Seminars:
Sun-Tue 10-11am, Tue 11-12
Wed 10-11am, Thur 10-11
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course provides an overview over key issues in Social Anthropology. It examines the
historical development of the discipline, offers an introduction to the main theories and
thinkers that have shaped it as an academic discipline, and presents the most important
research methods. We learn about the differences between Social Anthropology and other
disciplines of the social sciences, and critically assesses the practical applicability to real-life
situations.
COURSE AIMS
to give an overview over how Social Anthropology has developed as an academic discipline
since the 19th century,
to introduce the main theories and thinkers that have had an important influence on the
development of anthropological theory and practice,
to examine and practise the most significant research methods and approaches that
characterise anthropological practice,
to understand the differences between social anthropology and other social science
disciplines,
to develop an understanding and to critically assess the extent to which anthropological
theories and methods can be applied in a contemporary context
LECTURE/SEMINAR PROGRAMME
Week 1:
Introduction: What is Social Anthropology?
Week 2:
Beginnings: Malinowski and the British School
Week 3:
Structure: Durkheim and the French School
Week 4:
Cultural Relativism and Empire: The American School
Week 5:
Studying relationships: kinship, economy, politics, religion
Week 6:
Fieldwork and research methods
Week 7:
What is Anthropology not? Other social sciences
Week 8:
What is Anthropology good for?
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SET BOOKS FOR PURCHASE, IF APPLICABLE
The following books are worth buying or photocopying, as they constitute a major element of
the course:
Haviland, William.1990. Cultural Anthropology. Thomson Learning.
Hughes, Charles C. (ed.). 1976. Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural
Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981‫ دار النهضة العربية‬:‫ بيروت‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬..
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬..
READING LIST
Week 1:
Introduction: What is Social Anthropology?
Lecture 1 (Sun 10): What we know so far
Lecture 2 (Mon 10): What is culture?
Lecture 3 (Tue 10): Studying the social
Lecture 4 (Tue 11): What do anthropologists do?
Seminar 5 (Wed 10): Studying the Other
Seminar 6 (Thur 10): What is a social fact?
Seminar reading:
Keesing, Felix M. 1976. “The relation of culture to ‘society’”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.).
Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally
Publishing Co., pp. 275-7.
Kluckhohn, Clyde. 1976. “The cultural and the social dimension”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.).
Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally
Publishing Co., pp. 277-9.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “The nature of anthropology”, in: William Haviland. Cultural
Anthropology. Thomson Learning, pp.4-9.
Haviland, William. 1990. “The nature of culture”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp.28-38.
Durkheim, Emile. 1966. “What is a social fact?”, in: Emile Durkheim. The Rules of Sociological
Method. New York: Macmillan, pp.1-14
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "مجال الألنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬.18-43.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ األنثروبولوجيا‬.‫ "الفصل األول‬.9-21
Week 2:
Beginnings: Malinowski and the British School
Lecture 1: What is theory?
Lecture 2: Evolutionism: Lewis Henry Morgan
Lecture 3: Malinowski: Argonauts of the Western Pacific
Lecture 4: Functionalism: Radcliffe-Browne, Evans-Pritchard
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Seminar 5: Ethnographic work: Malinowski
Seminar 6: Writing a literature review
Seminar reading:
Malinowski, Bronislaw. 1976. “ Subject, scope, and method of ethnographic work”, in: Charles
C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago:
Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp. 57-68.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “The nature of culture”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp.39-52.
Haviland, William. 1990. “Patterns of subsistence”, in: William Haviland. Cultural
Anthropology. Thomson Learning, pp.150-160.
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "البدايات النظرية‬.44-73.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الفصل الثاني‬.22-32.
Week 3:
Structure: Durkheim and the French School
Lecture 1: Structure and society: Durkheim
Lecture 2: Structure and individual: Mauss
Lecture 3: Structure and agency: Foucauld and Bourdieu
Lecture 4: Family as structure
Seminar 5: Patterns of exchange: economy
Seminar 6: Patterns of exchange: marriage
Seminar reading:
Levi-Strauss, Claude. 1968. “The family”, in: John Middleton (ed.). Studies in Social and
Cultural Anthropology. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co. pp. 128-55.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “Sex and Marriage”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp.212-240.
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "التطورات النظرية التالية‬.74-99.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الفصل الثاني‬.33-50.
Week 4: Cultural Relativism and Empire: The American School
Literature review due (27/06)
Lecture 1: Boas: Cultural Relativism
Lecture 2: Mead, Benedict: Culture and Personality
Lecture 3: Cultural Determinism
Lecture 4: Socioecology
Seminar 5: Marvin Harris: India’s sacred cattle
Seminar 6: Midterm exam
Seminar reading:
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Harris, Marvin. 1979. “The cultural ecology of India’s sacred cattle”, in: David McCurdy and
James P. Spradley. Issues in Cultural Anthropology. Selected Readings. Boston: Little, Brown
and Co., pp. 204-19.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “Culture and Personality”, in: William Haviland. Cultural
Anthropology. Thomson Learning, pp.120-47.
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الدرسات الألنثروبولوجيةالحديثة‬.130-159.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الفصل الثاني‬.51-57.
Week 5:
Studying Relationships: kinship, economy, politics, religion
Lecture 1: Anthropology of kinship
Lecture 2: Economic anthropology
Lecture 3: Political anthropology
Lecture 4: Gender and class
Seminar 5: Anthropology of religion
Seminar 6: Evans-Pritchard: Witchcraft among the Azande
Seminar reading:
Evans-Pritchard, E.E. 1976. “The notion of witchcraft explains unfortunate events”, in: Charles
C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago:
Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp. 236-46.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “Kinship and descent”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp. 268-92.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الفصل الرابع‬.82-149.
Week 6:
Fieldwork and research methods
Lecture 1: Participant observation
Lecture 2: Interviewing and taking notes
Lecture 3: Grounded theory
Lecture 4: Research ethics
Seminar 5: Studying your own society
Seminar 6: Presenting a topic
Seminar reading:
Bowen, Elenore Smith. 1976. “A new home”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made.
Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp.
50-6.
Suggested reading:
Haviland, William. 1990. “The nature of anthropology”, in: William Haviland. Cultural
Anthropology. Thomson Learning, pp.14-26.
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الدراسةالحقلية و التقليد التجربي‬.100-129.
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.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا الثقافية‬."‫ "الفصل الثامن‬.277-292.
Week 7:
What is Anthropology not? Other social sciences
Lecture 1: Objectivity, science and anthropology
Lecture 2: Science is “sciencing”
Lecture 3: Psychology, History
Lecture 4: Sociology
Seminar 5: Student presentations
Seminar 6: Student presentations
Seminar reading:
Bronowski, J. 1976. “The character of science”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made.
Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp.
24-8.
Nadel, S.F. 1976. “The hierarchy of sciences”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made.
Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp.
265-70.
Suggested reading:
White, Leslie A. 1976. “Science is ‘sciencing’”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made.
Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp.
29-38.
Ross, Ralph. 1976. “The nature of science”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made.
Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp.
39-43.
Haviland, William. 1990. “Kinship and descent”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp.268-92.
.‫ عاطف‬،‫وصفي‬1981 .‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الفصل الخامس‬.161-172.
Week 8:
What is Anthropology good for?
Lecture 1: Applied anthropology
Lecture 2: Action research
Lecture 3: Understanding modernity
Lecture 4: Globalisation and transnational research
Seminar 5: Postmodernism
Seminar 6: Final exam
Seminar reading:
Hayakawa, S.I. 1976. “How we know what we know”, in: Charles C. Hughes (ed.). CustomMade. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology. Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing
Co., pp. 168-74.
Suggested reading:
Keesing, Felix M. 1976. “The abstract of ‘construct’ nature of anthropological concepts”, in:
Charles C. Hughes (ed.). Custom-Made. Introductory Readings for Cultural Anthropology.
Chicago: Rand McNally Publishing Co., pp. 175-81.
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Haviland, William. 1990. “The future of humanity”, in: William Haviland. Cultural Anthropology.
Thomson Learning, pp.440-66.
Layton, Robert. 1997. “Postmodernism and anthropology”, in: Robert Layton. An Introduction
to Theory in Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 184-215.
.‫ا‬.‫ ا‬،‫ايفانز بريتشارد‬1960.‫ ص‬.‫ األنثروبولوجيا االجتماعية‬."‫ "الألنثروبولوجيا التطبيقية‬.160-184.
ASSESSMENT
Literature review
20%
Read and critically review an ethnographic journal article. It must be submitted by 12pm on
27/06/2010. The review should be about 500 words long and concern any article chosen from
one of the following journals (available through EBSCO):
American Anthropologist
Annual Review of Anthropology
Anthropology Today
Critique of Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Current Anthropology
Ethnology
Anthropological Quarterly
Journal of Anthropological Research
American Ethnologist
Midterm exam
20%
A one-hour exam referring to the first four weeks of teaching. 01/07/2010.
Group presentation 10%
In groups of four you should present an anthropological topic to the class. The presentation
should be about 10 minutes long. 21+22/07/2010.
Final exam
50%
A two-hour exam referring to the entire course content. 29/07/2010.
REGULARITY OF ATTENDANCE
Attendance at lectures and seminars is required. For regulations concerning the failure to
attend, please refer to the School Handbook.
CLASS CERTIFICATE
Failure to attend classes or failure to submit a piece of continuous assessment may result in
your class certificate being refused.
Students who are refused a class certificate are withdrawn from the course and cannot take
the prescribed degree assessment in the current session, nor are eligible to be re-assessed
next session, unless and until they qualify for the award of a class certificate by taking the
course again in the next session.
ASSESSMENT DEADLINES
Literature review: 27/06/2010
Midterm exam: 01/07/2010
Presentation: 21+22/07/2010
Final exam: 29/07/2010
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