ANTH 210.001 HONORS INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL
ANTHROPOLOGY
|
(한국 문화를 통해 처음 만나는 문화 인류학) |
MWF, 10-10:50 am
Li-009
Samuel G. Collins
Li-318A, x3199
scollins@towson.edu
pages.towson.edu/scollins
Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 2-3:30 pm
class description:
Globalization was supposed to result in a
homogeneous world grounded in global media, corporate retail and
fast-food. Instead, the opposite seems to have happened: “culture,” far
from becoming subordinated to rational choice, increasingly proliferates along
transnational scapes. Moreover, 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.
That said, the temptation is to look for
explanations of the world that utilize a short-hand of stereotypes and
mythologies to confirm what we think we already know without actually
discomfiting our pre-existing vision of the world—this is the way news media
typically present cultural alterity.
In contrast, this course is an introductory
study of anthropological concepts, theories and methods that simultaneously
introduces an anthropological understanding of Korean culture. In other words, this is the polar opposite of
the kind of shallow understandings of the world encouraged by global media, an
introduction to anthropology through the lens of a single case study.
In this course, we will endeavor to study Korea
through history, music, food and through images—the movies and television that
make up the “Korean wave” (hallyu).
Using as our template the “study of culture at distance” pioneered by
anthropologists during World War II, we will analyze contemporary Korean film
and television through the lens of anthropology: gender, class, kinship,
family, politics and, ultimately, the experience of modernity itself.
By reflecting upon Korea in this more complex
and nuanced way, we open 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.
Accordingly, our objectives are five-fold:
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;
3) to apply anthropological theories and
concepts to Korean social life and culture in the context of modernity and
modernization;
4) to communicate these understandings through
examinations, oral reports and essays; and
5) to reflexively (and critically) apply these
ideas to one’s own life.
Learning Goals:
Upon satisfactory completion of this course,
students should be able to:
·
summarize the major goals of cultural
anthropology and identify contemporary trends in the field.
·
demonstrate an anthropological understanding
grounded in the apperception of sociohistorical contexts in written work
(quizzes, exams, papers) as well as in oral work (presentations,
discussions).
·
Finally, they will be able to demonstrate
through papers and in-class presentations an in-depth understanding of Korea
and Korean modernity.
required readings:
The following texts are available in the campus
bookstore:
Abelmann, Nancy (2003). The Melodrama of
Mobility. Honolulu: University of
Hawai’i Press.
Kim, Choong Soon (2007). Kimchi and IT. Seoul: Ilchokak.
In addition, articles will be assigned from
online journals available through Cook Library, including American Ethnologist,
Critique of Anthropology, positions, Korea Journal and others.
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. 20 pts.
Quizzes and homework
Students will (occasionally) undertake
activities related to readings and lectures, including group discussions, films
and out-of-class assignments. 4-5 quizzes will be given over the course of the
semester to evaluate reading comprehension. 30 pts.
Midterm exam
(October 22) The first exam will test both your knowledge and understanding of
both anthropological concepts and their application with a series of short
answer questions on readings, films and lectures. 50 pts
semester paper (December 3) Using our ethnography, The Melodrama of Mobility, as a touchstone, students will write an
original paper analyzing Korean life and identity using both anthropological
theory and additional sources from class.
Students will receive a style sheet for the paper during the first week
of October, with the final paper due in the first week of December. 50 pts.
final exam
The final examination will measure your ability to synthesize and communicate
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: 20 pts.
Homework/ Quizzes: 30 pts.
Midterm
Exam: 50
pts.
Research Project:
50 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.
(9/3-9/5) What is cultural anthropology?
Assigned Reading: Geertz, Clifford (1974). “From the Native’s Point of View”: On the
Nature of Anthropological Understanding.
Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 28(1): 26-45. [JSTOR]
2nd Week Anthropological Subfields
--Korea, Genetically, Archaeologically and
Linguistically
(9/8-9/12) Assigned Reading: Kim, 1-46.
Browse the Korean government’s website
materials for the study of Korean (free): http://www.interedu.go.kr/
And this Seoul-based non-profit (free):
http://prkorea.com/english/e_learn/e_learn1_1.htm
Film: Dae Jang Geum
September 10: Change of Schedule period ends.
3rd Week Globalization and Multiple
Modernities
--Korean History, Modernity
(9/15-9/19) Assigned Reading: Kim, 47-72
Film: Dae Jang Geum
4th Week Modernity and Modernization
--Korean capitalism, development and
globalization
(9/22-9/26)
Assigned Reading: Kim, 73-108.
Abelmann, 1-32
Film: Dae Jang Geum
5th Week Kinship and Marriage
(9/29-10/3) Assigned Reading: Kim, 109-142
Abelmann, 33-58
Film: My Lovely Sam-Soon
6th Week Conceptualizing Culture
(10/6-10/10) Assigned Reading: Kim, 143-178.
Abelmann, 59-99
Cho, Hae-Joang (2005). Reading the “Korean Wave” as a Sign of Global
Shift. Korea Journal 45(4):
147-182. [http://www.ekoreajournal.net/]
Film: My Lovely Sam-Soon
7th Week Magic and Religion
(10/13-10/17) Assigned Reading: Kim, 179-218.
Abelmann, 100-131
Friedman, Sara L. (2006). Watching Twin
Bracelets in China. Cultural
Anthropology 21(4): 603-632. [JSTOR]
Film: My Lovely Sam-Soon
8th Week
Midterm Examination
(10/20-10/24) Assigned Reading: Kim, 249-280
Abelmann, 132-163
Film: My Lovely Sam-Soon
9th Week Culture
Change and Acquisition (con.)
(10/27-10/31) Assigned Reading: Kim, 281-316
Abelmann, 164-186
Yoon, Kyongwon (2006). The Making of Neo-Confucian Cyberkids. New Media & Society 8(5): 753-771. [Academic Search]
Film: My Lovely Sam-Soon
10th Week Identity
and Self—Ideology and Hegemony
(11/3-11/7) Assigned Reading: Kim, 317-340
Film: “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring”
(2003)
Abelmann, 187-213
Harrison, Faye (1998). Introduction: Expanding the Discourse on
“Race”. American Anthropologist 100(3):
609-631. [JSTOR]
Film: Coffee Prince
11th Week: Governmentalities
and the Neoliberal
(11/10-11/14) Assigned Reading, Abelmann,
214-239
Film: Coffee Prince
12th Week Self and Other
(11/17-11/21) Assigned Reading: Abelmann,
240-280
Appadurai, Arjun (1988). How to Make a National Cuisine. Comparative Studies in Society and History
30(1): 3-24. [JSTOR]
Film: Coffee Prince
13th Week Transnationalism and Korean Americans
(11/24) Assigned Reading: Abelmann, 281-294
Film: Coffee Prince
14th Week Ethnography and Representation
(12/1-12/5) Assigned Reading: Article TBA
15th Week Class Presentations
Assigned Reading: Article TBA
(12/8-12/12)
16th Week Review
(12/15)
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
3. Students with learning disabilities should
register at the Disability Support Services Office. DSS will contact me
with necessary accommodations.
4. Late homework: Late homework assignments
will be accepted at ½ credit (1-2 days late) or ¼ credit (3-4 days late).
After 4 days, late homeworks will no longer be accepted.
5. Make-up Work: Under extraordinary
circumstances, documented by physicians, police, etc., students may be allowed to
make-up missed work.
6. Students who are disruptive may be dismissed
from class.
7. This
course may be repeated only once without the prior permission of the Academic
Standards Committee.
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.