UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Duluth Campus Department of Anthropology, 228 Cina Hall

Sociology & Criminology 1123 University Drive

College of Liberal Arts Duluth, Minnesota 55812-3306

Office: 218-726-7551

http://www.d.umn.edu/socanth

Email: socath@d.umn.edu

24 November 2019

Understanding Global Cultures Week 14

NOTE: Class this week is on-line only.

Thanksgiving (U.S.A.)

28 November 2019

U.S.A. Holiday Thanksgiving

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 2

1. Real People . . . Real Places . . .

Video: Aatsinki: The Story of Arctic Cowboys (84 min., 2014)

(Reindeer Herders of Finnish Lapland)

2. DUE: Term Paper Wednesday, the 27th of November 2019

3. REM: Course Survey (from IT)

4. Thanksgiving Holiday

5. Assignments and Events

For Fun Global Trivia

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 3

1. Real People . . . Real Places . . .

Video: Aatsinki : the Story of Arctic Cowboys (84 min., 2014)

(Reindeer Herders of Finnish Lapland)

“Brothers Aarne and Lasse Aatsinki are cowboys of the Arctic.

Quiet but good natured, dare-devilish but humble, rugged but

gentle, and exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to their

little slice of wilderness. The brothers, along with their wives

and children, live well north of the Arctic Circle in Finnish

Lapland, where they are the leaders of a collective of traditional

reindeer herders who manage the last group of wild reindeer in

all of Finland. Aatsinki follows the family for the span of one

year, quietly observing their seasonal routines and the difficulties

and joys of a life so closely tied to the land. Though, on the

surface, Aatsinki is the story of a single family, its underlying

narrative is one of global consequences and connections.

Between their uncanny understanding of the landscape and their

reindeer on the one hand, and their heavy reliance on

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 4

snowmobiles and helicopters on the other, the herders have been

categorized as beacons of sustainability and demons of

environmentalism-- in essence, poster children for simplicity and

technology alike.”

Aatsinki: The Story Of Arctic Cowboys: Documenting The

Finnish Arctic -- culture trip (21 December 2016)

They Migrate 800 Miles a Year. Now It’s Getting Tougher [Nenets, reindeer herders in Russia’s Arctic] -- National Geographic (October 2017)

World's largest reindeer herd plummets -- BBC News (13 December

2016)

course viewing guide

2. DUE: Term Paper Wednesday, the 27th of November 2019

Term Paper Information

3. REM: Course Survey (from IT)

The friendly folks from Information Technology Systems & Services will be

sending you an Invitation to Participate in an online Course Evaluation.

Evaluations are important to me, the Department Head, and the Dean, as

well as everyone in our Department.

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 5

Please fill the online Course Evaluation out carefully.

Evaluations are anonymous, and will not be seen by the instructor until final

grades for this course have been recorded.

Thanks,

Tim Roufs

4. Thanksgiving Holiday

The big event of the week is, of course,

Thanksgiving. In the United States this

week we give a great big collective thanks—

and for most of us that will be for and with the sacrificial offering of a Pre-

Columbian New World bird that has been industrialized to the point where it

cannot reproduce without the help of humans, and to grow quickly to the point

where it can barely walk.** But that stuffed bird might be appropriate, even

symbolic (speaking of food symbolism) for the U.S.A. celebration where the

participants themselves can often barely walk after eating the sacrificial primal

bird and all its trimmings and accompanying dishes. So enjoy that, with a Pre-

Columbian cigar if you are so inclined. And don’t forget that Friday is World

Buy Nothing Day (aka “Black Friday”)—a great Global Cultures holiday.

[**See a wonderful book, by Barbara Kingsolver, Camille Kingsolver, and Steven L. Hopp, Animal, Vegetable,

Miracle: A Year of Food Life. (NY: HarperCollins, 2007. <www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/>) for details on

humans and turkeys.]

6. Assignments and Events . . . this week are listed on your ”Calendar”.

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 6

REM: Links on screenshots are not “hot” (active/live)

AND REM: Clicking on “Agenda” will give you a listings view

Global Cultures Week 14, p. 7

REM: Contribute Your Question to the Final Exam Wiki (Due by the end of Week 14—Saturday, 30 November 2019)

For Fun Global Trivia . . .

Which country has the least sexist banknotes? -- BBCNews (13 April 2015)

Answer

If you have any questions right now, please do not hesitate to post

them on the Course “Chat”, or e-mail troufs@d.umn.edu,

or stop by before or after class, across the hall in Cina 215.

Have a Great Thanksgiving week.

And don’t forget that Friday is World Buy Nothing

Day (in the United States; aka “Black Friday”)

Best Regards,

Tim Roufs