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Anthropology 101 |
Introduction to Anthropology
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Fall Term 2003 |
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Section 3TB3 |
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Syllabus of |
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Office hours: Tuesday |
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email:
john_collins@qc.edu Phone: 997-5524 |
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INTRODUCTION: This course is an introduction to the field of
anthropology, a discipline concerned with what it is to be human. As a
result, practically anything you can imagine may fall within our sphere of
study! |
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Twentieth
century North American Anthropology is typically conducted in relation to
four subdisciplines or fields of study. These
include human origins (paleoanthropology and
primate studies); the prehistoric past, or those periods in human history
that lack extensive written archives or require the analysis of material
evidence (archaeology); the ways that people live, know, and organize
themselves in the present or recent past (social or cultural anthropology,
also called ethnology); and the ways that people communicate with one another
or organize their worlds linguistically (linguistic anthropology). |
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Over
the course of the semester we will concentrate on social and cultural
anthropological approaches to human unity and diversity, with some attention
to linguistic anthropology. Our readings are drawn from four ethnographies (an ethnography is a written compilation of experiences
drawn from the community, institution, or group of people studied). The first
is an examination of a group of foragers in southern |
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As
you can see from the range of ethnographies we will read this semester, ours
is a very diverse discipline. I encourage you to think about differences and
similarities in the authors’ approaches to their subjects and to the practice
of anthropology/ethnography. In doing so you should become aware that
anthropology is not simply the study of primitive or marginal peoples, but a
way of seeing and being in a world that is constantly in transition even as
it is united by certain shared human traits and experiences. |
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Duneier, Mitchell. Sidewalk. |
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Fadiman, Anne. 1997. The Spirit Catches You and You
Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and
the Collision of Two Cultures. |
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Kulick, Don. Travesti:
Sex, Gender and Culture Among Brazilian Transgendered
Prostitutes. |
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Shostak, Marjorie. 2000. Nisa: The Life and Words of a !Kung Woman. 2nd
Edition. |
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You are expected to complete
the required readings for each date before coming to class. In many cases the
assigned reading will not be discussed in detail in class. And much of the
material covered in class cannot be found in the texts we read. Therefore, it is essential that you do the
readings and attend class while thinking about how the two both
overlap and differ. There is no assigned textbook in this class. |
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REQUIREMENTS: Regular attendance; prompt completion of
all assignments; two (2) midterms and a final exam. |
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GRADING:
Your
grade will be computed as follows, |
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Midterm
1: 15% |
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Midterm
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Final
exam: 35% |
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Class
participation: 25% |
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It will be
difficult to receive a top grade in this class without attending regularly
and completing the reading assignments. “Participation” in this class means
engaging with the material and your classmates in a thoughtful and
considerate manner. |
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EXAMS: Your first midterm will
take place on 10/9, your second midterm on 11/18, and your
final on 12/16 from |
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NON-EXAM ASSIGNMENTS: There will be occasional quizzes, short
homework assignments, and other activities developed during the term. These
will include written assignments (short essays). Supplementary activities
will not necessarily be announced in advance and they will count as an
important part of your class participation grade. They cannot be made up if
you miss class. |
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MAKE-UP POLICIES: It is your responsibility
to contact me and to arrange to make up any work missed. If you need to take
a make-up you must speak to me within 10 working days of the exam date. If
you do not do so there is no guarantee that you will be able to make it up.
(The make-up exam will be substantially different from that given to the rest
of the class.) You should be prepared to provide documentation, if requested,
outlining the reasons for any absence. |
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If you miss the final exam
you must contact me within 48 hours (either side) of the scheduled exam time
and arrange for an incomplete, if necessary. |
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FILM AND VIDEO:
Film and video make up an essential part of the course material. This will be reflected in section
assignments and on the exams. It is your
responsibility to view any film that you have missed. This may involve traveling to other
libraries within the CUNY system! |
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NOTE:
The
professor reserves the right to alter any and all parts of this syllabus as
the term progresses. |
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Important notice: The Department of Anthropology prohibits
unauthorized note-taking on behalf of any commercial organization. Anyone who violates this policy will be
asked to withdraw from the course.
Students should be aware that they make use of unauthorized notes at
their own risk! |
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--- CLASS
SCHEDULE ON NEXT PAGE --- |
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CLASS SCHEDULE
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DAY DATE TOPIC READING
ASSIGNMENT |
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Tuesday 9/2 Introductions ------- |
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Thursday 9/4 Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography Malinowski,
“Introduction” |
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Tuesday 9/9 Approaching Culture and Society Nisa, Intro + |
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Thursday 9/11 Foraging Societies Nisa, Chs. 2-3 |
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Tuesday 9/16 Exchange: Reciprocity and Redistribution Nisa,
4-5 |
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Thursday 9/18 Marriage and Kinship Nisa, 6-7 |
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Tuesday 9/23 Film: N’ai:
Story of a !Kung Bush Woman Nisa, 8-10 |
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Thursday 9/25 Rites of Passage Nisa 11-13 |
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Tuesday 9/30 Religion Finish
Nisa |
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Thursday 10/2 Review |
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Tuesday 10/7 NO CLASS – |
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Thursday 10/9 First Midterm Exam!! |
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Tuesday 10/14 Capitalism and World Systems Travesti, Intro + |
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Thursday 10/16 Gender Travesti, 3-4 |
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Tuesday 10/21 Ethnography and History Travesti, 5 |
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Thursday 10/23 Anthropology and the City Sidewalk,
pps. 3-80 |
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Tuesday 10/28 “Cultures of Poverty” + Ethnographic Method Sidewalk, 81-111 |
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Thursday 10/30 States, Stratification, and Social Control Sidewalk,
115-187 |
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Tuesday 11/4 Language and Culture Sidewalk,
188-228 |
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Thursday 11/6 Race and Ethnicity Sidewalk,
231-289 |
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Tuesday 11/11 The Social Construction of Decency Sidewalk,
293-330 |
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Thursday 11/13 Review |
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Tuesday 11/18 Second Midterm Exam! |
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Thursday 11/20 Film, Threads
of Survival Spirit,
1-2 |
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Tuesday 11/25 Health and Illness Spirit,
3-6 |
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Thursday 11/27 No Class – Thanksgiving continue
w/ Spirit |
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Tuesday 12/2 Magic, Power & Authority, Film Trobriand Cricket Spirit,
6-12 |
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Thursday 12/4 Social Action + Film, scenes from The
Last Supper Spirit,
13-14 |
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Tuesday 12/9 Art and Music – Brazilian Capoeira Spirit,
15-19 |
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Thursday 12/11 Closing Comments |
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Final Exam as Scheduled by |