ANTH 207.003: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
MWF, 11-11:50 am
LI-316
Samuel G. Collins
Li-318A, x3199
scollins@towson.edu
pages.towson.edu/scollins
Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00 pm
class description:
The interpenetration of national borders characteristic of globalization no longer allows us the luxury of remaining within an insular, ethnocentric world. Our success and survival depends upon understanding the powerful forces that shape these cultural ecologies. How do we make sense of this fecund growth of meaning and identity, this increasingly heterogeneous world? Why, through anthropology, of course.
In fact, globalization makes us all nonce anthropologists, practitioners of what contributors to one of our class texts call “zafimaniry anthropology,” i.e., broad speculations on life drawing upon (occasionally specious) comparisons between different groups of people. In this course, we will draw upon multiple, ethnographic examples in our own “zafimaniry” anthropologies concerning questions of life, love, belief, identity, hopes and fears, in the process interrogating our understanding of both ourselves and the people around us.
Anthropology has been called "a critique of common sense," a description that highlights anthropology’s critical role in a contemporary world characterized by both inequality and a studied lack of understanding: i.e., as a "gadfly" discipline that challenges the ways in which we think and understand. By reflexively discomfiting "common sense," social and cultural categories in the perception of difference, anthropology opens a middle ground between "self" and "Other," "rationality" and "emotion," "politics" and "ritual." That middle ground is the locus of connections between discursive and geographic orders, potentially powerful sites allowing us to perceive the linkages between not only institutions and ways of knowing, but between places in the multiplying networks of global society.
In this class, we will consider all aspects of cultural anthropology, both historically (from the 18thcentury to the present) and synchronically, in the careful analysis of case studies and ethnographic films. Our goals are threefold: 1) to map the space of cultural anthropology as an academic discipline; 2) to make thematic and epistemological connections between anthropology and other academic disciplines; and 3) to understand the relevance of cultural anthropology for everyday, modern life.
Upon successful
completion of this course, engaged students should be able to:
·
Identify and explain key concepts,
theories and debates in contemporary, cultural anthropology.
·
Connect social and cultural practices to
larger contexts of politics, economics, and power.
·
Apply anthropological perspectives to
critique ethnocentric assumptions and to address contemporary, human problems.
·
Effectively communicate anthropological
findings learned in the course.
required readings:
The following texts are available in the campus bookstore:
Astuti, Rita, Jonathan Parry and Charles Stafford, eds. (2008). Questions of Anthropology. NY: Berg Publishers.
Rofel, Lisa (2007). Desiring China. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
graded assignments
attendance Attendance in this course is required. Here's how it works: students begin the course with an "A" in attendance but, for each class missed, lose two points. However: each student can miss two "grace classes" before being penalized. 30 pts.
Assignments (deadlines announced) Utilizing readings and media from class, students will produce “zafimaniry” anthropologies comparing their own experiences with those of people described in course readings, films and discussions. During the semester, students will produce four (4) two-page comparisons. A style sheet for the assignment will be posted. 60 pts.
midterm exam (March 4) The first exam will test both your knowledge and understanding with a battery of multiple choice, "True-False" and “fill-in-the-blank” questions. 60 pts
final exam The final examination will measure your apprehension of ideas and theories from lectures, readings and films through a series of short answer questions. 50 pts
class grading
Your final grade will be computed by adding together the following point values for graded assignments and examinations:
Attendance: 30 pts.
Assignments: 60 pts.
Midterm Exam: 60 pts.
Final Exam: 50 pts.
_____
200 pts.
A 186+
A- 180-185
B+ 174-179
B 166-173
B- 160-165
C+ 154-159
C 140-153
D+ 134-139
D 120-133
F <120
class schedule:
1st Week Introduction to the course and explanation of syllabus.
(1/26-1/30) What is cultural anthropology?
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 337-361.
2nd Week Fundamental Concepts
(2/2-2/6) Assigned Reading: Astuti, 307-335.
February 3: Change of Schedule period ends.
3rd Week Globalization and Multiple Modernities
(2/9-2/13) Film: A New Day in Old Sana’a (2005)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 55-76.
Rofel, pp. 1-30
4th Week Ritual Life
(2/16-2/20) Film: Zen Buddhism: In Search of Self (2002)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, 105-136
Rofel, pp. 31-64.
5th Week Family and Kinship
(2/23-2/27) Film: Qiu Yue (2007)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 29-54
Rofel, pp. 65-84
6th Week Midterm Examination
(3/2-3/6)
7th Week Ideology and Cultural Acquisition, Part I
(3/9-3/13) Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 1-28.
Rofel, pp. 85-110
8th Week Spring Break
(3/16-3/20)
9th Week Ideology and Cultural Acquisition, Part II
(3/23-3/27) Film: Coffee Prince (2006)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 55-75
10th Week Work and Life
(3/30-4/3) Film: My Name is Kim Sam-soon (2004)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 137-166
Rofel, pp. 111-134
11th Week Magic and Religion
(4/6-4/8) Film: Witches in Exile (2005)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 77-104
Rofel, pp. 135-156
April 6: Last day to withdraw.
12th Week: Anthropologies of Science
(4/13-4/15) Astuti, pp. 197-226
Rofel, pp. 157-196
13th Week Death and Life
(4/20-4/24) Film: Big Shot’s Funeral (2001)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 227-248
14th Week Anthropological Interventions
(4/27-5/1) Film: Maquilapolis (2006)
Assigned Reading: Astuti, pp. 249-280
15th Week Cultural Critique
(5/4-5/8)
16th Week Review
(5/11)
notes
1. Although exams and graded work will remain as stated above, I may have to change different
readings or films on the syllabus throughout the semester. I will, in any case, try to give you
ample warning of any syllabus changes.
2. Cheating and Plagiarism policy: Our department has the following policy on academic dishonesty:
The faculty of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology
& Criminal Justice take a strong stand against Academic Dishonesty of
all forms. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any class.
It includes, but is not limited to, any form of cheating or unapproved help on
an exam or academic exercise, copying someone else’s written work without
citation, presenting fabricated information as legitimate, any unauthorized
collaboration among students, or assisting someone to cheat in any way. All
students have the ethical responsibility for doing their own work. A
student who is uncertain about whether or not something constitutes academic
dishonesty in a particular class has the obligation to see their instructor for
clarification. Consistent with university policy, the minimum penalty for
academic dishonesty in any form is determined by the individual faculty member
in each class, and may consist of “a reduced grade (including
“F” or zero) for the assignment; a reduced grade (including
“F”) for the entire course,” or other options as stipulated
in Appendix F of the Undergraduate Catalog. Students who are charged with
academic dishonesty must remain enrolled in the course and cannot
withdraw. Instructors who make the determination that academic dishonesty
has occurred will notify the student in writing of the finding, the penalty,
and the process for appeal. The same written notice will be forwarded to
the Office of Judicial Affairs on campus, the Dean of the
In addition, Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the University’s policy:
http://wwwnew.towson.edu/provost/resources/studentacademic.asp
At a minimum, students who plagiarize in this class will receive an “F” for the assignment.
3. Students who have, or suspect that they may have, a disability
should seek services through
Disability Support Services.
Students must be registered with DSS and receive written authorization
to obtain disability-related accommodations. If you need accommodation due to a
disability, please visit DSS for guidance.
The office is located at 7720 York Road, AD 232, Ph: 4-2638 or 3475.
4. Students may not repeat this
course more than once (make a third attempt at this course) without the prior
approval of the Academic Standards Committee. Please call 4-4351 or visit ES 235 for
more information.
5. Late assignments: Late assignments will be accepted at ½ credit (1-2 days late) or ¼ credit (3-4 days late). After 4 days, late assignments will no longer be accepted.
6. Make-up Work: Under extraordinary circumstances, documented by physicians, police, etc., students may be allowed to make-up missed work.
7. Students who are disruptive may be dismissed from class.
explanation of grading
explanation of grading
Consistent with University policy, the following grades will be assigned according to the designated criteria:
A: A superior performance surpassing assigned work in unique and novel ways and
integrating diverse ideas from a wide range of sources in addition to those discussed in class.
A-
B+
B: Excellent work surpassing the expectations of the assignment and demonstrating initiative
and a willingness to move beyond the basic requirements of the assigned work.
B-
C+
C: Satisfactory work meeting all basic requirements of the assignment.
D+
D: Work in some way less than satisfactory. Although conforming to basic requirements in
some way, the completed work is nevertheless not a coherent response to the
assignment.
F: A profoundly unsatisfactory performance which doesn't meet
the intent of the assignment at any level.