ANTH 260: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIO-CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Fall 2017

2106 Tydings Hall University of Maryland, College Park

Tues/Thurs 6:00 -7:15pm

Instructor: Dr. Irene Calis Office: 0109 Woods Hall Email: i.calis@umd.edu COURSE OVERVIEW What does it mean to be human? How can we understand the different conditions in which people live? This course offers an introduction to how anthropology approaches the human experience in its variations and commonalities. Students will learn why “an anthropological perspective” challenges our ideas and assumptions about the world we live in, beginning with our own. What is culture? Is difference “real”? Are values universal? In looking at these and other key aspects of life, as well as contemporary issues and debates, we will develop a critical analytical eye towards what is taken to be “natural”—such as race, gender, poverty—in order to understand how the politics of culture, power, and other global forces inform our outlook and pattern how we live as individuals, a society, and states across the globe. Students will develop a new way of thinking and skills that can be applied throughout their education and in everyday life. The course will also help students to develop their ability to read texts with a critical eye, to write clearly and convincingly, and to sharpen their oral skills, a different yet important mode of expression to writing essays.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

To become familiar with the basic analytical concepts, methods, and approaches of cultural anthropology

To begin to understand the factors that shape how we think and act in the world

To begin to think through the ethical questions that arise from producing knowledge

To appreciate the value of anthropology to contemporary issues

To develop critical reading, writing, and oral articulation skills

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS: The success of this course for everyone depends on what each of you puts into it. Allow yourself sufficient time to complete the required readings, viewing of films, and assignments if you wish to be successful in this course. You will NOT be successful if you do not keep up with each day’s readings or wait until the last minute to complete assignments. Each week includes both a lecture (Tuesdays) and a seminar (Thursdays), which allows you to participate, ask questions, and be involved in your own learning and development. In putting in the required time and effort, you have the ability to manage your grade in this class. The use of computers and/or phones are permitted in our classroom for drawing on the course materials only (ie. readings) or when incorporated in our discussions. Students using these devices for other reasons will be asked to leave, and this will be counted as an absence. Take this chance to unplug and fully engage together as a luxury. Read the assignments. Participate. 10% of final grade

This includes showing up, asking questions, and contributing to class discussions in thoughtful and respectful ways. Come prepared and ready for discussion, having read the assigned material and viewed the films listed for each week. As you are unable to participate if absent, missing class will bring down your grade. I welcome your contributions and will create the space for you to do so.

Reflection Papers. 20% of final grade

You are required to hand-in four reactions papers during the term. These papers are your critical reflections on any material from class discussions, readings, or films that might have sparked your interest, left you feeling puzzled or uneasy, that you perhaps disagreed with, or which provoked further questions. These short papers are ways to articulate your thoughts beyond the classroom setting and are expected to be meaningful responses (written with clear prose and proper grammar!). 2- 3 pages in length (max), with 1.5 spacing and 12pt font. You may be discussing them with your peers. Deadlines: Sept 21st; Oct. 12th; Oct. 26th; Nov.16th

Assignments. 40% of final grade

You will be assigned two mini out-of-class activities during the course. Further details will be handed out in class. No late assignments accepted.

Assignment 1 Due in class: Oct. 3rd Assignment 2 Due in class: Nov. 21st

Final Exam. 30% of final grade. The final exam will include three sections:

1) Identification of key words, names, and/or concepts 2) Short discussion of key readings/films (choose from a selection); 3) Essay question (choose from a selection)

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The exam is designed this way to bring together key aspects of our learning. IDS are the concepts needed to sharpen your analytical thinking; the readings build your knowledge base and critical readings skills; the essay allows you to synthesize the course material and make your own links. This form of assessment is therefore based on progressive learning, and so cramming techniques will not work in your favor. Keep up with the lectures, readings, films, and assignments as we go along in order to do well on this exam.

Grading System for course: A+ = 97-­­100 % B+ = 87-­­89.9 % C+ = 77-­­79.9 % D+ = 67-­­69.9 % F = below 60 % A = 93-­­96.9 % B = 83-­­86.9 % C = 73-­­76.9 % D = 63-­­66.9 % A-­­ = 90-­­92.9 % B-­­ = 80-­­82.9 % C-­­ = 70-­­72.9 % D-­­ = 60-­­62.9 % This course adheres to the policies of the University of Maryland’s Honor Code, which applies to all work submitted for academic credit. You are responsible for upholding this code and should familiarize yourself with the consequences of cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty, which will be reported. Please respect the contribution of others by identifying the individual accordingly and citing their work. It might be your research one day! For more information, see www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu

ACCOMMODATION for Students with Documented Disabilities

UMD guarantees appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities. I will make

every effort to accommodate students who are registered with the Disability Support

Service (DSS) and who provide me with a University of Maryland DSS Accommodation

form. Only written DSS documentation of the accommodation will be considered which

must be presented to me by the end of the first week. If you need further clarification, the

link to DSS is: http://faculty.umd.edu/teach/specialneeds.html

COURSE MATERIAL:

There are no books to purchase! All of the required materials have been made available for you free on our ELMS/CANVAS course site, the online course management system (www.elms.umd.edu ). Each reading is filed under its Lecture topic. It is your responsibility to become familiar with the Canvas workspace (see http://www.elms.umd.edu/student_quickguides ) and seek support as needed (http://www.elms.umd.edu/page/student-landing-page ). Make sure to turn on notifications for the course and check your email regularly as this will be our primary form of communication throughout.

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Films are also a key part of our course material and you are required to view all of them. These are available to you for online viewing as listed in the syllabus below. You are strongly encouraged to take notes as you view each film. Some points to think about:

1. Does the film have a message? If so, what is it? 3. In whose point of view is the film made? Does this matter? 4. How did you like it and what didn’t you like?

I: Concepts & Methods

Lecture 1: Aug. 29th/ Aug. 31st Anthropology & its Approach Required Online Film: The Gods Must Be Crazy (View on our ELMS class site, under Modules, Course Reserves)

Lecture 2: Sept.5th /Sept 7th What is Culture? How do we learn and experience it? Required Readings:

“When Does Life Begin?” Lynn Morgan

“Mother’s Love: Death without Weeping”, Nancy Scheper-Hughes

Lecture 3: Sept 12th /Sept 14th Fieldwork and the Ethics of Producing Knowledge

Required Readings:

“Nice Girls Don’t Talk to Rastas” George Gmelch

“Entering”, Paul Rabinow, Ch.4 in Reflections on Fieldwork in Morocco

FILM: The Gods Must Be Crazy WORKSHOP: Critical Reading, Sept. 26th ** Reflection Paper #1 due Sept. 26th**

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Lecture 4: Sept 19th /Sept. 21st How does language shape the way we think about and act in the world?

Required Readings:

“Shakespeare in the Bush”, Laura Bohannan

“Language, Race, and White Public Space”, Jane Hill

Class Seminar (21st): Critical Reading Workshop

** Reflection Paper #1 due Sept. 21st **

Lecture 5: Sept 26th /Sept. 28th Are Values Universal? The Debate

Required Readings:

“Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?” Lila Abu-Lughod

“Conservation Policy and Indigenous Peoples”, Marcus Colchester

II: The Politics of Human Diversity

Lecture 6: Oct. 3rd /Oct. 5th What is meant by “different?”

Required Readings:

“Growing up American”, Amparo Ojeda Required Online Film: Reel Bad Arabs https://vimeo.com/56687715

Assignment #1 Due in Class Oct. 3rd

FILM: Reel Bad Arabs Race: Power of an Illusion

Life & Debt **Assignment #1 due Oct. 3rd**

** Reflection Paper #2 due Oct 12th** ** Reflection Paper #3 due Oct 26th**

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Lecture 7: Oct. 10th/ Oct. 12th What’s color got to do with it?

Required Readings:

“Mixed Blood”, Jefferson Fish

“White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack”, Peggy McIntosh Required Online Film: Race: The Power of an Illusion http://umd.kanopystreaming.com/video/race-power-illusion-0

** Reflection Paper #2 Due Oct 12th**

Lecture 8: Oct. 17th/Oct.19th How do people make a living?

Required Readings:

“Crack in Spanish Harlem: Culture and Economy in the Inner City”, Philippe Bourgois

“Global Women in the New Economy”, Ehrenreich & Hochschild Required Film: Life & Debt (View on our ELMS class site, under Modules, Course Reserves)

Lecture 9: Oct. 24th/Oct. 26th The ins and outs of Multi-culturalism:

Case Study: Immigration and Migrants Required Readings:

“White Multiculturalism”, Ghassan Hage

** Reflection Paper #3 due Oct. 26th**

III: Cultural Change

FILMS: Ancient Futures Atanarjuat

BOOK: A Small Place

** Reflection Paper #4 due Nov. 16th**

**Assignment #2 Due Nov. 21st **

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Lecture 10: Oct.31st/ Nov. 2nd Approaching Processes of Change Required Readings:

A Small Place, Jamaica Kincaid (pp. 1-37; 77-81)

Lecture 11: Nov.7th/Nov. 9th What is meant by “Progress?”

Required Film: Ancient Futures, Available to view via WorldCat http://search.alexanderstreet.com.proxy-um.researchport.umd.edu/view/work/2451969

Lecture 12: Nov.14th/ Nov.16th Who owns culture?

Required Readings:

“Lovely Hula Hands”, Haunani Kay-Trask Required Film: Atanarjuat https://www.isuma.tv/atanarjuat

** Reflection Paper #4 due Nov 16th**

Lecture 13: Nov. 21st

**Nov. 23rd NO CLASS**

Lecture 14: Nov. 28th/ Nov. 30th

Lecture 15: Review (Dec 5th) and Final Exam (Dec. 7th)

FINAL EXAM

Assignment #2 Presentations

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