University of Nevada, Las Vegas Spring 2011

Anth 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

INTRUCTOR: Michelle Escasa GRAD ASSISTANT: Shannon Hannahs Office: WRI A 123 Office: WRI A 115 E-mail: michelle.escasa@gmail.com E-mail: shannahs@unlv.nevada.edu Phone: 895-2367 Office Hours: Tues 3:45-4:45 PM and by appt. Office Hours: TBD CLASS: Tuesday and Thursday TIME: 2:30 – 3:45 PM ROOM: TBD

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Everyone is a closet anthropologist. When you travel, when you meet people from places you know little about, when you watch the Discovery channel, when you watch the news … You probably “do” anthropology as you observe all the things that are different about those from other cultures, but also recognize many similarities. Cultural anthropology is the study of living peoples, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and more. Through a variety of theoretical approaches and research methods, anthropologists study the cultures of people in every part of the world-- including those subgroups within our own culture. Although there are approximately 200 countries or nation-states in the world today, there are literally thousands of different languages and cultures. Anthropologists often grapple with wanting to know what the universals are that can be found in every culture. They also examine the differences and distinctions that make cultures unique. This course provides a broad overview of the subdiscipline of cultural anthropology. Anthropology is the only scientific discipline that can access evidence about the entire human experience on this planet. It takes a very holistic approach in theory-building and in methods to look at humans in an integrated manner.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE: To learn about the world’s cultural and how they have changed and are changing, to understand the research methods and data used by anthropologists to study culture, to be able to discuss the interrelatedness of culture and biology and the significance of this approach for dealing with problems, and to be familiar with human cultural systems in terms of kinship, marriage, family, politics, leadership, economics and religion. Students will also sharpen their skills in critical thinking by grappling with a broad range of moral and ethical issues related to understanding diverse human groups. Finally, students will be able to discuss ethnocentrism and cultural relativity by using examples from the text and from class discussions.

TEXTBOOK: Barbara Miller Cultural Anthropology, 5th edition. Pearson. GRADING: There are 5 exams. The grades for these are worth the following: Exam #1 20% [Grading: 100-93 A, 92.9-90 A-, 89.9-87 B+, Exam #2 20% 86.9-83 B, 82.9-80 B-, 79.9-77 C+, 76.9-73 C, Exam #3 20% 72.9-70 C-, 69.9-67 D+, 66.9-63 D, 62.9-60 D-, Exam #4 20% 59.9 and below F] Exam #5 20% Each exam will be made up of 50 multiple choice questions, true-false statements and matching definitions (worth 2 points each for a total of 100). Exam questions are taken directly from class Lectures (which are a combination of the text, videos and additional material). There will be no curving of final scores - the grading will be done based on the above grading system. Make up exams are not given unless prearranged with the graduate assistant. Make-ups for exams will be made available in cases of documented emergencies only. Grades will not be posted. Exams will be handed back in class the following class. EXTRA CREDIT: There will be many opportunities (20+) for extra credit by simply showing up! During most classes, short, in-class writing assignments will be done. These will be used to stimulate discussion, clarify concepts, help you study for the exams, and to emphasize important points. These will be collected, and used in two ways – to track attendance, and to see how well you are getting the basic concepts (they won’t be graded, just quickly looked at by me or the grad assistant). Each attendance/writing exercise will be worth a percentage point (1) that will be used to raise exam grades. For example, if a student had an 80 on an exam #1 (a B-) it would be raised to a 90 (A-) using 10 attendance/writing points. Students can accrue more than 20+ total points across the semester and these would be applied to the lowest exam scores to raise them. ADDITIONAL EXTRA CREDIT: From time to time, UNLV’s Department of Anthropology presents talks by guest speakers from outside the university. The class will be made aware of these upcoming talks ahead of time. If you attend these lectures, and stay through to the end (after the question/answer period) you can accrue 5 extra credit points.

COURSE BASICS:

• Text = Cultural Anthropology 5/e • Grades = 5 exams (20% each) • Exams = Questions designed daily after class (captures things that were covered in class, in videos, in discussion, as well as from the text). • Exams are not cumulative; they are focused on Part I-V of the book, with 2 to 4 chapters at a time. • Assigned reading from text = do the reading twice, once before class, and once after class. • Attendance is required, and in-class writing assignments will provide extra-credit to off-set low test scores. • How to get an A? Attend class, take good notes, read your notes over every evening and re-write them if they are messy or disorganized,

stay engaged with what is being discussed during class, study the text and your notes for the exams, and do the assigned reading. ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required in the sense that it will be impossible for you to do well in the course without attending. Reading material assigned outside of class will be referred to and expanded upon extensively when we meet as a class. Attendance also ensures extra credit points towards raising exam scores. RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: As a general rule, a student missing a class because of observance of a religious holiday shall have the opportunity to make up missed work/exams. Students must notify me of anticipated absences by the last day of late registration to be assured of this opportunity. Please see WebCT syllabus for more details. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Plagiarism and other forms of cheating are serious academic offenses and will result in a failing grade for that work, and possible expulsion from the university. Please see WebCT syllabus for more details. SPECIAL NEEDS/ASSISTANCE: If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to go to the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for coordination of your academic accommodations. The DRC is located in the Reynolds Student Services Center, room 137. The DRC phone is 895-0866 or TDD 895-0652. Please see WebCT syllabus for more details. SYLLABUS AND SCHEDULE CHANGES: Your professor reserves the right to make and announce changes to the course syllabus and schedule.

ANTH 101 Course Schedule: Spring 2011 Note: subject to change, if necessary. Videos subject to change also. Week Dates TUESDAY THURSDAY 1 Jan 18 & 20 Chapter 1 (pages 2-12) WHAT IS ANTHROPOLOGY?

Chapter 1 (pages 12-31) and chapter 3 (pages 60-83) METHODS FOR STUDYING CULTURE Video: How Cultures Are Studied GN346 H68

2 Jan 25 & 27 Chapter 2 (pages 32-59) HUMAN EVOLUTION

Chapter 4 (pages 84-109) LIVELIHOODS Video: Waorani

3 Feb 1& 3 Exam 1 – PART I (pages 1- 109) Class Lectures #1-4, video clips, and Chapters 1-4

Chapter 5 (pages 110-135) EXCHANGE Video: World of Food-Tastes and Taboos GT2860.W67

4 Feb 8 & 10 Chapter 6 (pages 136-161) REPRODUCTION Chapter 7 (pages 162-179) HEALING

5 Feb 15&17 Chapter 7 (pages 179-187) DISEASE Exam 2 – PART II (pages 110-187) Class Lectures #5-8, videos and Chapters 4-7

6 Feb 22 & 24

Chapter 8 (pages 185-215) KINSHIP Chapter 9 (pages 219-239) SOCIAL IDENTITY Video: Return of the Tribal: Body Piercing GN419.25.R47

7 Mar 1 & 3 Chapter 10 (241-263) POLITICS Chapter 11 (pages 265-272) CONFLICT & VIOLENCE

8 Mar 8 & 10 Videos: Dead Birds DU744 .35 .D32 D43 & The Axe Fight (13m)

Exam 3 – PART III (pages 185-287) Class Lectures #9-13, videos and Chapters 8-11

9 Mar 15&17 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

10 Mar 22&24 Chapter 13 (pages 315-341) RELIGION

Chapter 13 (review 315-341) RELIGION

11 Mar 29&31 Video: Feast in Dream Village DS647 S6 F43 Video: Skull Art in Papua New Guinea (25 m) Video: Women of Manga DT 547 .45 M35 W64 (12m)

Chapter 14 (review 343-367) BODY ORNAMENTATION & ART

12 Apr 5 & 7 Chapter 12 (pages 289-313) COMMUNICATION Video: Language and Communication P35.L25

Review and Catch up day

13 Apr 12&14 Exam 4 – PART IV (pages 289-367) Class Lectures # 14-18, videos and Chapters 12-14

Chapter 15 (pages 370-381) MIGRATION

14 Apr 19&21 Chapter 15 (pages 381-393) IMMIGRATION

Video: Lost Generations RJ281 L67 Video: The Toured-The Other Side of Tourism G155 B35 T68

15 Apr 26&28 Chapter 16 (pages 395-418) AGENCY& DEVELOPMENT Chapter 16 (pages 418-421) THE FUTURE and Review TBD Exam 5 – PART V (pages 370-421) Class Lectures #19-23, videos and Chapters 15-16