Samuel G. Collins
Li-318A, x3199
scollins@towson.edu
www.towson.edu/~scollins

Office Hours:
Mondays, 2-4 p.m.
Wednesdays, 2-4 p.m.
Fridays, 1-2 p.m.

class description: Heir to Alexander Pope's dictum that "the proper study of mankind is man," anthropology still struggles with its Enlightenment past (including the androcentrism implied in "mankind").  But that struggle is positive one, reminding us to historicize, contextualize and  to assume nothing in our study of social life, culture and identity.  In a globalized, capitalist system such as ours, where connections between different people and places have multiplied exponentially (at the expense, perhaps, of the depth of those relationships), what's needed is more of this Enlightenment spirit, so immanent in the theories and methods of cultural anthropology.  While the forced dissemination of global, corporate cultures and the extinctions of indigenous languages (and peoples) is cause for censure, it is also a clarion call for an anthropological understanding of this constellation of power and culture.

In this class, we will consider all aspects of cultural anthropology, both historically (from the 18th century 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.

I will be a guide of sorts as you enter the study of cultural anthropology, but much of the responsibility rests on you to participate in all aspects of this class, from attendance to class discussions, reading and assignments.

required readings:
The following texts are available in the campus bookstore:

Hendry, Joy.
1999 Other People's Worlds: An Introduction to Cultural and Social
Anthropology.  New York: New York University Press.

Nelson, Laura C.
2000 Measured Excess. New York: Columbia University Press.
 
Stoller, Paul.
1999 Jaguar: A Story of Africans in America.  Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.

graded assignments

attendance and participation
During the first part of the semester, attendance is required; after midterms,
I'll stop taking attendance, but will begin asking questions based on class readings
to random students.  If you're not here or haven't done the reading, you
won't get credit!  Here's how it works: students begin the course with an "A"
in attendance and participation but, for each class missed (until the midterm)
or each question missed (after the midterm), lose a "grade step" (e.g., A to
A-, C+ to C).  However: each student can miss two "grace classes" (or
"grace questions") before being penalized.

homework
At various times throughout the semester, I will assign homework based on class readings, films and discussions.  Students may complete the homework for
extra credit on the midterm and final exam.

journal
As part of the "Consuming Spaces" project we're undertaking in our freshman
seminar, students will be required to keep a field journal of their participant
observation of two (3) sites in Baltimore.  Journals must reflect approximately
5 hours of field observation and will be graded on the basis of 1) thoroughness
of ethnographic detail and 2) attention to the components of anthropological
fieldwork.  Students will receive both a style sheet and relevant examples of
field journals.
 
midterm exam
The midterm exam will test both your reading knowledge and your understanding
of class discussions and activities through a battery of
short answer questions.

final exam
Our final exam will ask you to apply the ideas you've culled from readings,
lectures, films and  discussions and apply them to new or novel
situations in an extended essay format.

class grading

Attendance: 20%
Homework: extra credit
Midterm Exam:30%
Journal: 30%
Final Exam: 20%

class schedule:
 
1st Week Introduction to the course and explanation of syllabus.
(8/29-8/31) What is cultural anthropology?
Assigned Reading: Hendry, Introduction and Chapter 1

2nd Week Historical Roots of Anthropology/Anthropology Today
(9/3-9/9) Assigned Reading: Hendry, Chapters 2-4
September 3: Labor Day

3rd Week Anthropological Fieldwork
(9/10-9/14) Film: Jaguar
Assigned Reading: Stoller, Chapters 1-6

4th Week Modernity and Globalization
(9/17-9/21) Assigned Reading: Hendry, Chapter 5
Stoller, Chapters 7-12

5th Week Conceptualizing Culture
(9/24-9/28) Assigned Reading: Hendry, Chapters 7 and 9
Stoller, Chapters 13-18

6th Week Conceptualizing Culture redux
(10/1-10/5) Assigned Reading: Stoller, Chapters 19-24

7th Week Review for Midterm
(10/8-10/12) October 12: Midterm Examination
 
8th Week Culture Change and Acquisition
(10/15-10/19) Assigned Reading: Stoller Chapters 25-31

9th Week Culture Change and Acquisition Revisited
(10/22-10/26) Film: Herders of Mongun-Taiga
Assigned Reading: Hendry, Chapters 9-10

10th Week Politics and Power
(10/29-11/2) Assigned Reading: Hendry, Chapters 11-12
Nelson, vii-30

11th Week Towards an Anthropology of Capitalism
(11/5-11/9) Assigned Reading: Nelson, 33-69
November 7: Last Day to Withdraw with a >W=

12th Week Assigned Reading: Nelson, 71-104
(11/12-11/16)
 

 
13th Week Assigned Reading: Nelson, 107-137
(11/19-11/23) November 21-25: THANKSGIVING
November 19: FIELD JOURNALS DUE

14th Week Anthropological Ethics and Applied Anthropology
(11/26-11/30) Assigned Reading: Nelson, 139-173

15th Week Anthropology and Modernity
(12/3-12/7) December 7: ESSAYS DUE

16th Week Semester Review
(12/10-12/12) December 12: Last Day of Classes
December 19: Final Examination, 10:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m.

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. Each student is required to sign a contract indicating his/her understanding of the University=s rules regarding cheating and plagiarism (Towson University Undergraduate Catalog, Appendix F).  Neither will be tolerated in my class and will result in a flunking grade.

3. Students with learning disabilities should register at the Disability Support Services Office.
 

explanation of grading
Following department policy, students will be assigned a letter grade without a qualifying A+@ or A-@.

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.

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.

C: Satisfactory work meeting all basic requirements of the assignment.

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.