Antropológia | Kulturális antropológia » Saba Tesfay - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Source: http://www.doksinet Introduction to cultural anthropology 1. Saba Tesfay Objectives: The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the basic concepts and data of Cultural Anthropology as one of the disciplines of social science. Students will learn about the evolution, methods, aproaches and the different fields of anthropology as well as the many faces of culture. The course book is Haviland, William A. Cultural Anthropology 4th edition, to be found in the library under my name. You may consult the book on any relevant questions All articles from the book Conformity and Conflict are to be found either under my name in the library or in the book at the same location (two different editions! But many articles are to be found in both versions!) The seminar is designed for non-specialised students. Required work: 1, Regular class attendance is a course requirement. 2, Each student is encouraged to contribute to the in-class discussions: each lesson we are going to

discuss a relevant topic in anthropology through the assigned readings. Everyone is required to read one article for each lesson. The essence of the readings are going to be discussed in groups during the class. Questions and answers will follow 3, Every student is required to hand in an essay about an optional topic within the field of anthropology. In many cases, the assigned reading will not be discussed in class, and much of the material covered in class will not be found in the books. Evaluation Final marks will be based on in-class participation and the essay. Course outline Readings after the sign «A» will be compulsory reading for moiety A. Readings after sign « B » will be compulsory reading for moiety B. The other texts are recommended readings There are two compulsory texts for each lesson, but only one article for everyone depending on your membership in moieties A or B. It is on the first lesson that everyone can ask membership to moiety A or B. 1, The discipline of

anthropology Discussing the requirements for the course. What is a moiety? Introduction to cultural anthropology: fields of interest, approaches, evolution of the discipline. 2, The subject of study: Culture Haviland chapter 2: The Nature of Culture Article for discussion: A: Miner, Horace: Body Ritual Among the Nacirema (electronic) Source: http://www.doksinet B: Bohannan, Laura: „Shakespeare in the Bush”. In Conformity and Conflict Ed Spradley, James. 1997 (copy) Malinowski, Bronislaw: „Introduction: The Subject, method and Scope of this Enquiry” In Argonauts of the Western Pacific. 1960 (copy) Fish, Jeffrey M.: „Mixed Blood” In: Spradley, J and McCurdy, D In Conformity and Conflict; (copy) 3, Linguistic anthropology 1. Haviland chapter 4: Language and Communication Article for discussion: A: Thomson, David “The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Worlds Shaped by Words” In Conformity and Conflict B: Whorf, Benjamin Lee. „The Relation of Habitual Thought and Behaviour to

Language” In High Points in Anthropology. 2nd edition Paul Bohannan, Mark Glazer (eds) (copy) Deutscher, Guy: Whorf Revisited: You are what you Speak. Conformity and Conflict Hall, Edward T. and Hall, Mildred Reed: „The Sounds of Silence” In Conformity and Conflict. Basso, Keith H.: “To Give Up on Words”: Silence in Western Apache Culture In Applying Cultural Anthropology (electronic) 4, FILM 5, Kinship studies Haviland chapter 9: Kinship and Descent Article for discussion: A: Goldstein, Melvyn: “Polyandry: When brothers take a wife”. In Conformity and Conflict B: Willigen, John and Channa V.C: Law, Custom, and Crimes Against Women: The Problem of Dowry Death in India (electronic) 6, Roles and inequality Haviland chapter 10: Age, Common Interest, and Stratification Article for discussion: A: Walter, Williams: „The Berdache Tradition” (electronic) B: Friedl, Ernestine: Society and Sex Roles In: Conformity and Conflict Slocum, Sally: Woman the Gatherer: Male bias in

anthropology (copy) Stewart Michael: “True Speech: song and the moral order of a Hungarian Vlach Gypsy community” MAN, vol. 24 no1 March 1989 (copy) 7, Economic anthropology 1. Haviland chapter 6: Patterns of Subsistence Article for discussion: A: Turton, David: Lip-Plates and The People Who Take Photographs: Uneasy Encounters between Mursi and Tourists in Southern Ethiopia (electronic) Source: http://www.doksinet B: Kratz, Corinne: Circumcision, Pluralism, and Dilemmas of Cultural Relativism (electronic) Harris, Marvin: „India’s sacred cow”. In Conformity and Conflict 8, Economic anthropology 2. Haviland chapter 7: Economic Systems Article for discussion: A: Lee, Richard Borshay: „Eating Christmas in the Kalahari”. In Conformity and Conflict B: Cronk, Lee: “Reciprocity and the power of giving”. In Conformity and Conflict Nelson, Richard: Eskimo Science. Conformity and Conflict 9, Political anthropology Haviland chapter 11: Political Organization and Social Control

Article for discussion: A: Harris, Marvin: Life Without Chiefs. In: Conformity and Conflict B: Gibbs, James L.: The Kpelle Moot In: Applying Cultural Anthropology (electronic) Williams, Patrick: “The Invisibility of the Kalderash of Paris.” Urban Gypsies 11 1982 (copy) 10, The Anthropology of Religion Haviland chapter 12: Religion and Magic Article for discussion: A: Gmelch, George J.: Baseball magic (electronic) B: Sosis, Richard: The Adaptive Value of Religious Ritual (electronic) Leavitt, Stephen: „Cargo beliefs and religious experience”. In Conformity and Conflict 11, FILM 12, Witchcraft Article for discussion : A : Niehaus, Isak : Witchcraft in Anthropological Perspective (copy) B : Peters-Golden : The Azande . Witchcraft and Oracles in Africa (copy) Other articles : Sinéad, ni Shuinear. „Why do Gajos hate Gypsies so much, anyway ?” In Gypsy Politics and Traveller Identity. 1997 (copy) Caplan, Pat : In Search of the Exotic (electronic) Abu-Lughod, Lila : Do Muslim

Women Really Need Saving ? Conformity and Conflict.-