ANTH 101 –
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Professor: Valentina
Pagliai
Oberlin College
MWF 1:30pm-2:20pm
Office: King 320a
Phone: (440) 775-8372
office
Office Hours: MWF
4:30-5:30pm
E-mail:
valentina.pagliai@oberlin.edu
Course Description: This course introduces you to anthropology through
the reading a series of ethnographic monographs. While presenting the diversity
in the ways that humanity has organized its social institutions and cultural
systems, the course will focus on ³writing² examining the approaches through
which cultures can be understood.
The students will conduct their own fieldwork during the course, and
they will themselves engage in ³writing culture.² At the same time, we explore
topics related to the study of cultural anthropology, such as the relations
between economic systems and political systems; the meanings of ³family ties;²
and how individuals are both creatures of their culture and agents of their own
lives. It explores patterns of
global inequality -- by class, ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality and
nation. As we read through the
ethnographies, we will encounter examples from small-scale societies to the
contemporary U.S. and covering most continents. The class is discussion oriented, not lecture oriented.
Texts:
1)
Landes, Ruth 1994 (1947). The
City of Women.
Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
2)
Shipton, Parker 1989. Bitter
Money: Cultural Economy and Some African Meanings of Forbidden Commodities. Washington: American
Anthropological Association.
3)
Clastres, Pierre 1987 (1974). Society
Against the State.
New York: Zone Books.
4)
Patton, Sandra 2000. Birthmarks:
Transracial Adoption in Contemporary America. New York and London: New York
University Press.
5)
El Guindi, Fawda 1999. Veil:
Modesty, Privacy and Resistance. Oxford: Berg.
6)
Price, Richard & Sally Price 1995.
Enigma Variations.
Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
7)
A few additional readings are available on Blackboard.
Note: All Readings and
Assignments are to be done by the date they are listed on the syllabus. All videos listed will be shown in
class. It is generally a good idea to start reading each book in advance of
when it is due, to avoid having to read 100 pages at the last minute.
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
1
W
9/7 -- Introduction. How anthropologists
think about society. Preview
of the course: goals, readings, requirements, grading.
F
9/9 – What is Ethnography? Theories and topics in anthropology.
Assignment
(#1) Distributed
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
2
M
9/12 -- Ways of seeing. Ways of
being seen (or being invisible). Arrivals
Readings:
- Smadar Lavie pp. 3-26
-
Dorinne Kondo pp. 3-26
-
Ruth Landes ³The City of Women² pp. 1-39.
1st
Summary Due on today¹s readings.
W
9/14 – Ways of seeing. Ways of being seen: Distant Mirrors
Video:
"The Axe Fight" Tim Asch
1st
part of Assignment #1 Due
Readings:
-
Horace Miner ³Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.² P. 27-31
-
Janusz Mucha ³An Outsider¹s View of American Culture.² P. 37-43.
F 9/16 – Ways of Seeing. Ways of
Writing: The Cinematic Other
Video
by Trinh Min Ha
Readings:
-
Trinh Minh-ha ³Mechanical Eye, Electronic Ear, and the Lure of Authenticity²
pp. 53-62. In When the Moon Waxes Red.
2nd
Summary due on: Miner, Mucha & Trinh Minh-ha
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
3
M
9/19 – Ways of writing.
Readings:
- Sally Cole ³Ruth Landes in Brazil² In Landes¹ book. Pp. vii-xxviii.
W
9/21 – Discussion: The City of Women – Studying race (or gender or
religion)?
Readings:
- Landes pp. 40- (about) 112.
3rd
Summary due on Cole & Landes pp.40-112.
F 9/23 – Writing fieldnotes.
Assignment
#1 Due
Assignment
#2 Distributed
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
4
M
9/26 – Discussion: The City of Women
– Understanding religion (or race or gender)?
Readings:
Landes pp. 112- (about) 192.
W
9/28 – Discussion: The City of Women – a travelogue?
Readings:
- Landes pp. 192-248.
4th
summary due on Landes (rest of the book)
F 9/30 – Economic systems, Colonialism and
Globalization.
Video:
Mayan Agricolture
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
5
M
10/3 – Discussion: Bitter Money -
Research at the crossroads of anthropology and economy.
Readings:
- Shipton pp. 1-47.
W
10/5 – Discussion: Bitter Money – continued.
Readings:
- Shipton pp. 48-83.
5th
Summary due on Shipton pp. 1-83.
F
10/7 – Transnationalism.
Video:
³Transnational fiesta²
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
6
M
10/10 – Discussion: Globalization and transnationalism.
W
10/12 – Political systems and Power.
F
10/14 – Discussion: Society Against the State – What is power?
Deadline
to select a topic for your final paper
Readings:
- Clastres, pp.7-47 & 79-99.
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
7
M
10/17 – Discussion: Society Against the State – Marriage and the
family across cultures
Readings:
- Clastres, pp. 101-128
6th
Summary due on Clastres pp. 7-47 & 79-128.
W
10/19 – Discussion: Society Against the State – Globalization and
Indigenous cultures
Video:
Blowpipes and Bulldozers.
Readings:
- Clastres, pp. 151-175.
F
10/21 – Discussion: Society Against the State – ³other²
philosophies: words and power
Readings:
- Clastres, pp. 177-218.
7th
Summary due on Clastres on pp. 151-218.
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
8
- FALL BREAK
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
9
M
10/31 – Discussion: Society Against the State. Society without state?
What can difference reveal us?
Assignment
#2 Due
W
11/2 – Race as Social Construct
Video
Excerpts from: Race: The Power of an Illusion
F
11/4 – Racism and its social effects
Video
Excerpts from: Race: The Power of an Illusion
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
10
M
11/7 – Racism and its social effects, continued
Readings:
- Patton, pp. 1-27
W
11/9 – The Meaning of Family. Discussion: Birthmarks.
Readings:
- Patton, pp. 27-61
8th
Summary due on Patton, pp. 1-61.
F
11/11 – Self, Personhood and Identity.
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
11
M
11/14 – Discussion: Birthmarks - Kinship & identity
Readings:
- Patton, pp. 62-98
W
11/16 – Discussion: Birthmarks
Readings:
- Patton, pp. 99-129
9th
Summary due on Patton, p. 62 to 129
F
11/18 – Discussion: Birthmarks
Readings:
- Patton, pp. 130-167
Distribute
Assignment #3
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
12
M
11/21 – Gender and Sexual Identities
Readings:
- El Guindi, pp. 1-22.
Video:
³Honored by the Moon²
W
11/23 – Discussion: Gender and Colonialism
Readings:
- El Guindi, pp. 37-46
10th
Summary due on Patton pp. 130-167 and El Guindi pp. 1-22 and 37-46.
F
11/25 – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
13
M
11/28 -- Discussion: Veil – Status and Gender
Readings:
- El Guindi, pp. 97-128
W
11/30 – Religion. Discussion: Veil
Readings:
- El Guindi, pp. 129-145.
11th
Summary due on El Guindi pp. 97 to 145
Distribute
Guidelines for final paper
F
12/2 – – Discussion: Veil -- Resistance
Readings:
- El Guindi, pp. 161-185.
Assignment
#3 Due.
Video:
Paris is Burning
____________________________________________________________
WEEK
14
M
12/5 – The meaning of art.
W
12/7 – Discussion: Art
Readings:
- Price pp. 1-51
12th
Summary due on El Guindi pp. 161-185 & Price pp. 1-51.
F
12/9 – Discussion: Art.
Readings:
- Price pp. 51-108
____________________________________________________________
WEEK 15
M
12/12 – Discussion: Art and Authenticity.
Readings:
- Price pp. 108-155.
13th Summary due on Price, pp. 51
to end.
W 12/14 -- Final discussion: writing, meaning
making, and anthropological responsibility.
________________________________________________
FINALS'
WEEK
Final
Paper Due: Thursday May 19th at 7pm
Course Policies:
Code
of honor
The
Oberlin College Students' Code of Honor applies to the course, please
familiarize yourself with it: http://www.oberlin.edu/students/student_pages/honor_code.html
Readings should be completed by
the day they are listed on the syllabus; this will help you follow lectures and
prepare for lectures and section.
Summaries are due at the beginning
of the class session. They must be
typed, about 500 words long. Summaries and other assignments must be turned in
on time at the beginning of class.
They will be graded down 1 point for each day that they are late. Each
summary is graded on a scale of 1 to 10 and it is worth 1.78% of the final
grade.
Participation
to class Discussions is fundamental. Everybody is expected to
participate actively to class discussion every time the class meets and as time
allows. ³Active participation,² means speaking during discussions (at least
most of the time), having questions prepared for potential discussion for every
class, and getting to know your fellow classmates by name, major, etc. Merely
attending class does not constitute active in class participation.
Presence
in class
is
expected, and I will take the roll at the beginning of each class. Students
present at the roll will receive 1 point.
Students who are late may not be recorded.
Grades:
Assignment
#1 (exchange of perspectives)
5
% of final grade
Assignment
#2 (First draft) 5
%
Assignment
#3 (Second draft) 10
%
Final
Paper 25
%
Summaries 26
%
Class
presentations 5
%
Participation
(discussions and presence in class) 24
%
_________
100
%
A+
= 96% of grade; A = 93%; A- = 90%, B+ = 86%; B = 82%; B- = 78%; C+ = 74%; C =
70%; C- = 60%; NE = Less than 60%; D = 55%; F = Less than 55%.
Final
Note:
Although the syllabus will be followed as much as possible, it is intended as a
guideline and circumstances may require a change to the schedule. Students are responsible for any
changes announced in class.