anth101 syllabus 2009 lindkvist - bates...
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ANTH 101
Cultural
Anthropology
Autumn 2009
Professor Heather L. Lindkvist
207.786.6445
Office: Pettengill Hall 217
Office Hours: Friday 2.40 - 5.00
+ by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides an introduction to cultural anthropology, which studies the diversity of human experience. The course introduces students to the issues addressed and methods used by cultural anthropologists in order to understand how various groups of people organize and give meaning to their experience of a common world. The basic assumption of the course is that our reality or our world is culturally constructed. We take up this issue by examining a variety of cultures including the Trobriand Islanders, the Hijras of India, Somalis in diaspora, and the Sherpas of Nepal. Throughout the course we will reflect on the American context.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course format (consisting of lectures and discussions), readings, and assignments are designed to foster your curiosity about cultural anthropology and the study of culture. At the end of the course students will be able to:
Reflect on the diversity of perspectives of what it means to be human
ANTH 101 Syllabus 2
Explain core concepts in the study of human experience cross-culturally, such as culture, society, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, gender, race, and ethnicity
Discuss important theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches in cultural anthropology
Challenge prevailing “Western” (American and European) assumptions about the worldviews and belief systems that exist in “non-Western” societies
Critically examine how categories such as culture, race, ethnicity, class, identity and gender are used in everyday settings
COURSE READINGS
Reading is a fundamental part of the intellectual life. And reading – especially careful, thoughtful review – contributes to writing well. As you read, interrogate the text and its author. Ask “Why?” Write down questions and thoughts on the text. And most importantly, challenge the author’s position and authority. Why does the author write what she does? What evidence does she use to support her claims?
I expect you to think critically about the readings. I strongly encourage you to take notes and pose questions as you read a text. You should determine the main argument or purpose of the text (its thesis), identify any underlying assumptions of the text, and examine the evidence provided by the author to support the thesis. You should also consider for what audience the text is written. Always keep in mind how the text fits in with perspectives presented in class lectures, discussions, and in the other assignments.
You should read the assigned texts in advance of the class meeting for which they are listed, according to the schedule indicated in the syllabus. If a reading is listed under a Wednesday, you should read the text for that Wednesday. I advise you not to fall behind in the readings as you are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the reading assigned for a particular date.
The selections for this course include a course text, three ethnographies, a novel and a compilation
of articles and book chapters. The books are available for purchase at the Bates College Bookstore and are on reserve at Ladd Library. Most articles will be available on the course page on Lyceum, as noted in the syllabus with a . The course bibliography follows the “Readings & Assignments” section of the syllabus.
You will be required to review pertinent websites in preparation for class. I may distribute additional readings in-class to clarify issues raised in our discussions. I encourage students to contribute relevant texts and images as well!
Required Books
The texts are listed in the order in which they have been assigned.
Monaghan, John and Peter Just. 2000. Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University. Listed as [SCA] in the syllabus.
Weiner, Annette B. 1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. New York: Wadsworth Publishing. Ladd Reserve: GN671.N5 W43 1987
Nanda, Serena.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 3
1998. Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India. 2nd edition. New York: Wadsworth Publishing. Ladd Reserve: HQ449.N36 1990
Farah, Nuruddin. 2004. Links. New York: Riverhead Books. Ladd Reserve: PR9396.9.F3 L56 2004
Ortner, Sherry. 2001. Life and Death on Mt. Everest: Sherpas and Himalayan Mountaineering. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Ladd Reserve: GV199.44.E85 O78 1999
OVERVIEW OF GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
As course assignments and exams are based on materials presented in class and in the readings, I strongly encourage you to attend lectures and to complete the assigned readings prior to class.
Please note that NO assignments may be submitted via email. Any electronic submissions will be to the course website on Lyceum. All written work must be completed in order to receive a passing grade for the course.
Attendance + Participation
Each student is expected to come to class each day having completed the readings and prepared to discuss them. You may be asked to complete a one-minute paper at the end of the class period enabling you to reflect on what you have learned from lecture on that day. Films and videos are part of the course curriculum; you are responsible for attending evening viewings (as noted in the syllabus) as well as the in-class films.
Class attendance and engaged, constructive contributions to discussions will improve your course grade. Poor attendance will lower it. I will take attendance randomly throughout the semester.
Discussion Groups and Lyceum Posts 20%
By September 16th, I will randomly assign each student to a discussion group. As a member of this group you will meet outside of class to discuss course readings, work collaboratively to consider a question or topic posted to Lyceum, and then independently respond to the question through the group blog on Lyceum. You also may want to provide feedback to one another on course assignments. See the Discussion Group handout for more detail, which I will distribute on September 14th.
Critical Essays 40%
You will prepare two critical essays, five to six pages in length, based on the readings, integrating theories and concepts presented in the lectures. I will distribute the assignment in class at least one week prior to due date. The first essay is due Monday, October 12th. The second essay is due Monday, November 16th.
Final Exam 40%
Each student will complete a short answer and essay-format, take home final exam. The final will encompass concepts discussed in lectures and readings throughout the semester. You also are responsible for any films or videos shown during the semester. The Final Exam will be distributed on Monday, December 7th and will be due on Wednesday, December 16th by 3:00pm in Pettengill Hall 217.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 4
ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES
Assignment Deadline
Lyceum Post 1 September 18
Lyceum Post 2 October 2
Critical Essay 1 October 12
Lyceum Post 3 October 16
Lyceum Post 4 November 6
Critical Essay 2 November 16
Lyceum Post 5 December 4
Final Exam December 16
COURSE POLICIES
Class Etiquette
I consider our classroom to be a collaborative environment in which diverse perspectives are welcome and encouraged. Collaboration depends on everyone’s participation and engagement with the course materials. The more involved you are in the class, the more you will get out of it.
Please arrive to class on time, stay for the duration of the class (i.e., do not get up unannounced for any reason) and turn off all cell phones/iPhones and computers prior to class. Do not send text messages or emails during class.
Practice active listening. Listen respectfully to your fellow students: do not interrupt another student while s/he is speaking, and do not speak while anyone else is speaking. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.
Thank you for contributing to a respectful classroom environment.
Class Cancellations
If for any reason I must be absent from class, I will send students an email the night before our scheduled meeting. The Anthropology area administrative assistant will post a sign on our classroom door as well. In lieu of discussion you will be required to complete an assignment (e.g., a response to a blog posting or a comment about an article) on Lyceum. I will include instructions for the assignment on Lyceum. You must complete the assignment by 5:00pm on the day on which it is assigned.
Statement on Disabilities and Learning Differences
If you have any disability which may hinder your ability to learn under usual circumstances, please inform me directly and as early in the semester as possible. I will make the necessary adjustments to improve the learning environment. In addition, please contact Holly Gurney (786.6220 or [email protected]) in the office of the Dean of Students if you have any special needs.
Emails
I will respond to emails during regular business hours. Do not expect a response to your email directly before class or over the weekend. Speaking with me after class or during office hours is often more effective than an email communication.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 5
Academic Integrity
All students are responsible for reading and understanding the Bates College Statement on Academic Honesty. (See http://abacus.bates.edu/pubs/Plagiarism/plagiarism.html). When you turn in an assignment to satisfy the requirements for this course, you are indicating it is your own work. The failure to properly acknowledge your use of another work is plagiarism. All references must be cited according to the AAA guidelines (see described in handouts and on Lyceum). I do not tolerate academic dishonesty. Plagiarism of any kind will result in a failing grade for the assignment and/or the class.
Late Assignments
Overdue assignments are not acceptable and will be penalized. Assignments handed in late will be graded down accordingly, in fairness to students who have met the deadline. For each day an assignment is late, I will mark it down 1/3rd of a letter grade. For example, a student hands a paper in 2 days late; the initial mark is a B+ but the final grade is a B-.
I will suspend this policy for extenuating circumstances. You must contact me directly if you have any difficulties meeting the assignment deadlines. However, the later you notify me, the less likely it is that I will make an accommodation.
The Instructor reserves the right to modify the course syllabus and assignments as necessary.
READINGS & ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR
ANTH 101 Syllabus 6
DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENT
PART I. ANTHROPOLOGY: NOTES ON A DISCIPLINE
September 9
Wednesday
An Introduction to the Course Using the internet, look up “Anthropology.” Type up the URLs for 3 websites that best explain what anthropology is. Turn-in at the next class period, September 11th.
September 11
Friday
Anthropology and its Subfields
[SCA] A Very Short Introduction. Pp. 1 - 12.
Miner, Horace M. 1956. Body Ritual among the Nacirema. Pp. 503-507.
In-class film: Anthropology: Real People, Real Careers. 2006.
September 14
Monday
The Anthropological
Endeavor: Fieldwork and
Participant-Observation
[SCA] Chapter 1: A Dispute in Donggo: Fieldwork and Ethnography. Pp. 13 - 33.
Malinowski, Bronislaw. 1932. Introduction: Subject, Method and Scope of this Inquiry. Pp. 1-25.
Sterk, Claire E. 2009. Fieldwork on Prostitution in the Era of AIDS. Pp. 33-45.
September 16
Wednesday
Anthropological Inquiry:
The Culture Concept [SCA] Chapter 2: Bee Larvae and Onion Soup: Culture. Pp. 34
- 52.
Bonannan, Laura. 1998. Shakespeare in the Bush. Pp. 78-88.
Evening Film: 7.30-10.00pm, Pettigrew 301
Shyamalan, M. Night., dir. 2003. The Village.
September 18
Friday
Discussion: The Cultural and
Social Construction of Reality Meet in Pettengill G52 for discussion with discussion groups. Submit Responses to Lyceum by 5:00pm.
PART II. ETHNOGRAPHIC CASE STUDY: THE TROBRIANDERS OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
September 21
Monday
The Past and Present: An
Introduction to the Trobriand
Islands
[SCA] Chapter 3: A Brief Encounter: Society. Pp. 53 - 74.
Weiner, Annette B. 1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Introduction and Chapter 1. Pp. 1-31.
September 23
Wednesday
Blood and Sex, Kinship and
Descent Weiner, Annette B. 1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New
Guinea. Chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5. Pp. 33 - 96.
Recommended:
[SCA] Chapter 4: Fernando Seeks a Wife. Pp. 75 - 88.
September 25
Friday
In-Class Ethnographic Film Wason, David, dir. 1991. The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea.
September 28
Monday
Hierarchies of Power Weiner, Annette B. 1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Chapters 6 and 7. Pp. 97 - 123.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 7
September 30
Wednesday
Forms of Exchange Weiner, Annette B. 1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Chapters 8, 9, and 10. Pp. 125 - 167.
[SCA] Chapter 6: A Feast in Nuyoo: People and Their Things. Pp. 107 - 119.
October 2
Friday
Discussion Meet with discussion groups. Submit posts to Lyceum by 8:00pm.
PART III. CONSTRUCTING GENDER: THE HIJRAS OF INDIA
October 5
Monday
The Cultural Construction of
Gender Nanda, Serena. 1998. Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of
India. Intro, Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Pp. xvii – 37.
October 7
Wednesday
Engendering Economics Nanda, Serena. 1998. Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India. Chapters 4, 5, and 6. Pp. 38 – 112.
October 9
Friday
No Class Meeting
October 12
Monday
The Third Gender in Cross-
Cultural Comparison Critical Essay 1 due
Nanda, Serena. 1998. Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India. Chapters 9 and 10. Pp. 113 – 149.
Compiled media reports on Lyceum.
In-Class Film: National Geographic. 2004. Taboo: Sexuality.
PART IV. APPROACHING “RACE” AND ETHNICITY
October 14
Wednesday
The Social Construction of
“Race” Complete the questions and activities on Lyceum prior to reading the assignment. Bring your responses to class.
Mukhopadhyay, Carol C, et.al. 2007. Culture and
Classification: Race is Culturally Real. In How Real is Race? Pp. 99 – 113.
Molnar, Stephen. 2001. Racial Variation and the Perception of Human Differences. In Human Variation.
Pp. 1-33. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Evening Film: 7.30-10.00pm, Olin Hall 104
Phillip Noyce, dir. 2003. Rabbit-Proof Fence.
October 16
Friday
Discussion Meet with discussion groups. Submit posts to Lyceum by 8:00pm.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 8
October 19
Monday
Anthropology and “Race” Complete the questions and activities on Lyceum. Bring your responses to class.
Race: Are we so different?
http://www.understandingrace.org/home.html
Brace, C. Loring. 1996. A Four Letter Word Called “Race”. Pp. 106-141.
Smedley, Audrey. 1997. The Origins of “Race.” 52.
American Anthropological Association Statement on "Race." http://www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm
In-class Film: Riggs, Marlon, dir. 1986. Ethnic notions. 56 mins. San
Francisco, CA: California Newsreel.
October 21 - 23 AUTUMN RECESS
October 26
Monday
“Race” & Ethnicity in the
United States Complete the activities on Lyceum.
Mukhopadhyay, Carol C. et.al. 2007. Race and Inequality and Cross-Cultural Variation in Race. Pp. 119-137, 145-159.
Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. 1997. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/rewrite/fedreg/ombdir15.html
Fish, Jeffrey M. 2009. Mixed Blood. In Conformity and Conflict. James Spradley and David W. McCurdy, eds. Pp. 248-258.
McIntosh, Peggy. 1989. White Privilege: Unpacking the
Invisible Backpack. Peace and Freedom (July/August).
Compiled media reports of the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
PART V. DISPLACEMENT AND DISLOCATION: SOMALIS IN THE DIASPROA
October 28
Wednesday
Somalia: History and Context Farah, Nuruddin. 2003. Links. Part I. Pp. 1-145.
Putnam, Diane and Mohamed Cabdi Noor. 1993. Somalis: Their Culture and History. http://www.cal.org/co/somali/index.html
October 30
Friday
In-Class Film Cran, Bill, dir. 2001. Frontline: Ambush in Mogadishu.
Continue reading Farah.
November 2
Monday
Dissolution of the Somali State Farah, Nuruddin. 2003. Links. Part II. Pp. 150 – 241, 244 – 277.
Lyons, Terrence and Ahmed I. Samatar. 1995. Anatomy of
State Collapse. Pp. 7-24.
ANTH 101 Syllabus 9
November 4
Wednesday
Death and Displacement:
The Effects of Internal
Conflict
Farah, Nuruddin. 2003. Links. Parts III and IV. Pp. 278 – 334
Evening Film: 7.30-10.00pm, Olin Hall 104
Makepeace, Anne, dir. 2006. Rain in a Dry Land. 83 mins. Oley, PA : Bullfrog Films
November 6
Friday
Discussion Meet with discussion groups. Submit posts to Lyceum by 8:00pm.
November 9
Monday
The Refugee Experience Horst, Cindy. 2006. Buufis among Somalis in Dadaab. Pp. 143 - 157.
Farah, Nuruddin. 2000. Chapter 3 from Yesterday, Tomorrow: Voices from the Somali Diaspora. Pp. 30-37.
UNHCR. 2004. The United States. In Resettlement Handbook. Pp. 429 – 443.
November 11
Wednesday
Dislocations: Somalis in
Lewiston, ME Besteman, Catherine. 1999. Hard Hair: Somali Constructions of Gosha Inferiority. Pp. 113-131
Finnegan, William. 2006. Letter from Maine: New in Town – The Somalis of Lewiston. The New Yorker. December 11: 46 – 58.
Lindkvist, Heather. 2008. The Reach and Limits of Cultural Accommodation: Public Schools and Somali Muslim Immigrants in Maine. Pp. 164- 195.
Additional materials online.
November 13
Friday
Guest Speakers Individuals from the local Somali community will share their stories.
PART VI. CONFIGURING “TOURISM” ON MT. EVEREST
November 16
Monday
“Serious Games”:
Representations of Himalayan
Mountaineering
Critical Essay 2 due
Ortner, Sherry. 2001. Life and Death on Mt. Everest. Chapters 1 and 2. Pp. 3 - 55.
November 18
Wednesday
“To Be” a Sherpa Ortner, Sherry. 2001. Life and Death on Mt. Everest. Chapters 3, 4 and 5. Pp. 56 - 148.
Additional materials on Lyceum
November 20
Friday
No Class Meeting
November 21 - 29 THANKSGIVING RECESS
November 30
Monday
The Male Mountaineer
Ortner, Sherry. 2001. Life and Death on Mt. Everest. Chapter 6 and 7. Pp. 149 - 216.
Select media reports on Lyceum
ANTH 101 Syllabus 10
December 2
Wednesday
Death on Mt. Everest
Breashears, David, and Liesl Clark, dirs. 1998. Everest: the death zone.
December 4
Friday
Discussion Meet with discussion groups. Submit posts to Lyceum by 8:00pm.
December 7
Monday
Reconfigurations of Sherpa
Culture
Distribute Final Exam
Ortner, Sherry. 2001. Life and Death on Mt. Everest. Chapter 6, 7, and 8. Pp. 217 - 293.
December 9
Wednesday
Applying Anthropology
December 11
Friday
No Class Meeting
December 16
Wednesday
Final Exam Due Return to Pettengill Hall 217 by 3:00pm
ANTH 101 Syllabus 11
COURSE BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abdullahi, Mohamed Diriye.
2001. Introduction. In Culture and Customs of Somalia. Pp. 1-30. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
American Anthropological Association.
1999 [Adopted 1998]. American Anthropological Association Statement on "Race." American Anthropologist 100(3): 712-713. http://www.aaanet.org/stmts/racepp.htm, accessed September 8,
2009.
Bonannan, Laura.
1998. Shakespeare in the Bush. In In Conformity and Conflict. 6th edition. James Spradley and David W. McCurdy, eds. Pp. 78-88. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foreman, and Co.
Brace, C. Loring.
1996. A Four Letter Word Called “Race”. In Race and Other Misadventures. Larry T. Reynolds and Leonard Lieberman, eds. Pp. 106-141. Dix Hills, NY: General Hall Press.
Breashears, David, and Liesl Clark, dirs.
1998. Everest: the death zone. 60 mins. South Burlington, VT: WGBH Boston Video.
Cran, Bill, dir.
2001. Frontline: Ambush in Mogadishu. 60 mins. Boston, MA: WGBH Educational Foundation.
Farah, Nuruddin.
2000. Chapter 3 from Yesterday, Tomorrow: Voices from the Somali Diaspora. Pp. 30-37 .New York: Cassell.
2004. Links. New York: Riverhead Books.
Fish, Jeffrey M.
2009. Mixed Blood. In Conformity and Conflict. 13th edition. James Spradley and David W. McCurdy, eds.
Pp. 248-258. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Besteman, Catherine.
1999. Hard Hair: Somali Constructions of Gosha Inferiority. In Unraveling Somalia: Race, Violence, and the Legacy of Slavery. Pp. 113-13. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Horst, Cindy.
2006. Buufis among Somalis in Dadaab: the Transnational and Historical Logics behind Resettlement Dreams. Journal of Refugee Studies. 19(2): 143 - 157.
Lindkvist, Heather.
2008. The Reach and Limits of Cultural Accommodation: Public Schools and Somali Muslim Immigrants in Maine. In Just Schools: Pursuing Equal Education in Societies of Difference. Martha Minow, Hazel Markus and Richard Shweder, Eds. Pp. 164-203. New York: SSRC/Russell Sage Foundation.
Lyons, Terrence, and Ahmed I. Samatar.
1995. Anatomy of State Collapse. In Somalia. Pp. 7 – 24.Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Makepeace, Anne, dir.
2006. Rain in a Dry Land. 83 mins. Oley, PA : Bullfrog Films
Malinowski, Bronislaw.
1932. Introduction: Subject, Method and Scope of this Inquiry. In Argonauts of the Western Pacific. Pp. 1-25. London: Routledge.
McIntosh, Peggy.
1989. White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack. Peace and Freedom (July/August).
ANTH 101 Syllabus 12
Miner, Horace M.
1956. Body Ritual among the Nacirema. American Anthropologist. 58(3): 503-507.
Molnar, Stephen.
2001. Racial Variation and the Perception of Human Differences. In Human Variation. Pp. 1-33.
Monaghan, John, and Peter Just.
2000. Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University.
Mukhopadhyay, Carol C, Rosemary Henze, and Yolanda Moses.
2007. Race and Inequality and Cross-Cultural Variation in Race. In How Real is Race? Pp. 119-137, 145-159. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.
Nanda, Serena.
1998. Neither Man Nor Woman: The Hijras of India. 2nd edition. New York: Wadsworth Publishing.
Phillip Noyce, dir.
2003. Rabbit-Proof Fence. 94 mins. Rumbalara Films. Australia.
Putnam, Diane and Mohamed Cabdi Noor.
1993. Somalis: Their Culture and History. Refugee Fact Sheet No. 9. Cultural Orientation Resource Center. http://www.cal.org/co/somali/index.html. Electronic document.
Riggs, Marlon, dir.
1986. Ethnic notions. 56 mins. San Francisco, CA: California Newsreel.
Shyamalan, M. Night., dir.
2003. The Village. 107 mins. Touchstone Pictures. Hollywood.
Smedley, Audrey.
1997. The Origins of “Race.” Anthropology Newsletter. 38(8): 52.
Sterk, Claire E.
2009. Fieldwork on Prostitution in the Era of AIDS. In Conformity and Conflict. 13th edition. James Spradley and David W. McCurdy, eds. Pp. 33-45. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall
United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR).
2004. Resettlement Handbook. Geneva, Switzerland.
US Government.
1997. Revisions to the Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/rewrite/fedreg/ombdir15.html, accessed September 9, 2009.
Wason, David, dir.
1991. The Trobriand Islanders of Papua New Guinea. Annette B. Weiner, consulting anthropologist. 52 mins. Films Incorporated Video. Chicago.
Weiner, Annette B.
1988. The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. New York: Wadsworth Publishing.