ANTH 203 Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology Lecture Notes PDF

ANTH 203 – Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology  Outline Overview I LEARNING OUTCOMES: Recall and Define Key Concepts Critically Analyze Socio-cultural Processes Engage in Comparative Analysis Examine Historical Milestones Foster Critical Reflection READINGS AND TEXTBOOK: Bro...

ANTH 203 – Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology  Outline Overview I LEARNING OUTCOMES: Recall and Define Key Concepts Critically Analyze Socio-cultural Processes Engage in Comparative Analysis Examine Historical Milestones Foster Critical Reflection READINGS AND TEXTBOOK: Brown, Nina, Thomas McIlwrath and, Laura Tubelle de Gónzalez. Perspectives: An open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology. The title is available at the following website: https://perspectives.americananthro.org/index.html  Outline Overview II COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS: – Reflections: 8 short reflections (5% each) – Starting from Week 4 – Midterm Exam: multiple choice questions and/or short answers. OCTOBER 17, 2024. [Value 25%] – Final Exam: cumulative. Date to TBD [Value 35%] COURSE EXPECTATIONS Students are expected to attend all classes and arrived prepared Course updates and changes will be communicated in class and through email No video or audio recording is allowed, except for students registered with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) COURSE POLICIES Regularly check your emails If you miss a lecture, PLEASE do contact me and make use of office hours Respectful Learning Environment  Outline Overview III IMPORTANT NOTES: Late Assignment Policy: Late Weekly Reflection will be penalized for each day past the due date. – REMEMBER! The purpose of the Weekly Reflection is to demonstrate your engagement and thoughts on the week's topic and the provided prompt. There are no right or wrong answers, and perfection is not expected. As long as your response is well-developed—with complete sentences and appropriate use of punctuation—you will receive the full 5% credit Grades Posting: Grades will be posted within two weeks following an exam EXAMS DEFERRAL: Students who miss the exam have up to 48 hours to contact me to ask for a makeup exam  Outline Overview IV WEEK 1: What is Cultural Anthropology? WEEK 2: What is Cultural Relativism? WEEK 3: Race and Ethnicity WEEK 4: What is Language? WEEK 5: Food and Sustenance TOPICS WEEK 6: Economics and Consumption WEEK 7: MIDTERM WEEK 8: Politics and Power WEEK 9: Religion and Supernaturalism WEEK 10: Family and Marriage WEEK 11: Gender and Sexuality WEEK 12: Sustainability WEEK 13: Media and Technologies Chapter 1 – Introduction to Anthropology Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology, 2e  Learning Objectives 1. Four subfields of anthropology 2. Culture 3. Development of anthropology 4. Ethnocentrism 5. How anthropology is unique 6. Using anthropology to address current issues  What Is Anthropology? The study of humanity; everything and anything that makes us human Four academic subfields – Cultural Anthropology – Archaeology – Biological Anthropology – Linguistic Anthropology One practical subfield – Applied Anthropology  Cultural Anthropologists As Seen on TV/Movies… Mary Albright in the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun Christian, Hughes, a cultural anthropology graduate student in the film Midsommsar. John Markway is an anthropologist who studies ghosts in the Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House Jean-Charles Pommier (played by Pierce Brosnan) is a cultural anthropologist who studies nomads in the film horror Nomads Charlotte Lewis, cultural anthropologist in the series Lost  What is Cultural Anthropology? Cultural anthropologists study the similarities and differences among living societies and cultural groups Also ask broader questions about humankind Often study social groups different from their own, but examine subcultures in their own society  What is Qualitative Research?  What Is Culture? A set of beliefs, practices, and symbols that are learned and shared. Beliefs – all mental aspects of culture Practices – behaviors and actions Symbols – meanings of cultural objects and ideas  What Is Culture? 1. Humans have the capacity to learn any culture 2. Culture changes in response to internal and external factors 3. Humans are not bound by culture, can choose to resist or change it 4. Culture is symbolic 5. Our reliance on culture distinguishes us from other animals and shaped our evolution 6. Culture and biology are interrelated  Five Step 1: Write Your Beliefs Write down a list of five Things things that you personally believe to be true. For You example: "I believe in karma.” “ I believe I once saw a Believe ghost” "I believe that science to Be can answer all questions." Step 2: Share with a Peer True Step 3: Share with the class  “University Culture” A Vision of Students Today by Michael Wesch, Kansas State University https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=MNza3EjY8FQ Some Subfields of Cultural Anthropology Anthropology of Anthropology of food Anthropology of family and kinship and nutrition gender and sexuality Anthropology of Anthropology of Business religion science Anthropology Digital anthropology Ecological or environmental anthropology Economic Feminist Medical anthropology anthropology anthropology Political Psychological anthropology anthropology Queer anthropology Urban anthropology Visual anthropology  Biological Anthropology – study of human origins, evolution, and variation Archaeology – study of the material past, The (Other) using excavation Subfields of Anthropology Linguistic Anthropology – study of human language Applied Anthropology – application of anthropological theories, methods and findings to solve practical problems Biological Anthropology – study of human origins, evolution, and variation Archaeology – study of the material past, using excavation Linguistic Anthropology – study of human language Applied Anthropology – application of anthropological theories, methods and findings to solve practical problems The Captivating and Curious Careers of Anthropology Anthropologists ARE everywhere these days studying the biological, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological aspects of what it means to be human. Anthropologists At Work: Careers Making A Difference  Early travelers – Zhang Qian (164-113 BC) and Ibn Battuta (1304- 1369) “Age of Discovery” (1400-1700s) – exploration and exploitation A Brief History of “Age of Enlightenment” (beginning in 1700s) – privileged science and observation Anthropological 1800s – development of science, participant-observation, and Thinking I cultural relativism – Sir Charles Lyell, geologist – Charles Darwin, naturalist and biologist – John Locke, philosopher Anthropology and Colonialism Collaboration with governments Exploitation of Indigenous peoples Decolonization of museums – Decolonization of Anthropology as a whole 8 – 24  Anthropological Perspectives I Holism – how aspects of human life influence one another Cultural Relativism – understanding others from the perspective of their own culture Comparison – used to learn about similarities and differences  Anthropological Perspectives II Scientific vs. Humanistic Fieldwork – ethnography approaches – Biological based on participant- subfield uses a more observation; descriptive scientific approach, while accounts of culture with Cultural uses a more theory humanistic approach  The “The world is getting smaller” It allows us to understand people who Importance of are different from us without judging them Cultural It has an essential set of skills for today’s workforce: – Interest in people Anthropology – Understanding of diversity – Ability to work with others Today Broad knowledge of other cultures – skills in observation and analysis – critical thinking – clear communication – applied problem solving  Anthony Kwame Harrison, Virginia Tech – Studies the complexities, nuances, Why Is and significance of race; how race influences our perceptions of Anthropology popular music (2009) Bob Myers, Alfred University Important? – Studies medical anthropology and Some Personal public health Lynn Kwiatkowski Experiences – Studies gender, malnutrition, and power relations in the Philippines; also gender violence in Vietnam