Culture and Society
Anthropology 2300
Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30-1:50
Place: Curry Hall 103
Instructor: Andrew Nelson
Office: 330N Chilton Hall
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-4pm; or by appointment
E-Mail:
Course T.A.: Jessica Phillips
E-mail:
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 2-4pm; or by appointment
Office: 308D Chilton Hall
Course Description: “think like an anthropologist”
This course introduces students to the field of Socio-cultural Anthropology—the study of human cultures in their diversity and variation. Rather than providing a collection of facts about other cultures, however, this class attempts to provide a sense of the general approach anthropologists take when they study the concept of culture in a variety of places and situations. In other words, it focuses on culture as a process, as something people do rather than as something objective that people possess. Ultimately, the aim is to lead you to “think like an anthropologist.”
Required Texts:
1. Schultz, Emily A. & Robert H. Lavenda. 2012. Cultural Anthropology: A Perspective on the Human Condition. 8th Edition. Oxford University Press.
2. All other readings can be downloaded from the course’s Learn webpage under the tab “Readings”.
3. You can RETURN Mauss’ The Gift! We will not be using it.
Course Requirements:
I. Attendance & Participation
Attendance and participation are obligatory components of this course.
II. Reading Quizzes
There will be ten reading quizzes randomly given through the term. Beware! If you miss the day of a quiz, you will not be able to make it up. They will be worth a total of 20% towards your final grade.
III. Quarterly Assignments
You will have 4 assignments to complete during the term. These will be short written exercises in which you apply course material to experiences and observations from your life. They will be worth 5% each for a total of 20% towards your final grade.
IV. Exams
There will be three tests taken at the Sage Hall Testing Center. Test questions will consist of multiple choice and short responses. Each exam will cover only the material of the given unit of the course. They will not be cumulative. Each will count for 20%, adding up to 60% of your final grade.
Grade Makeup
Assignments / 20% (4 x 5%)Exams / 60% (3 x 20%)
Reading Quizzes / 20% (10 x 2%)
All grades will be assigned based on the following grading scale:
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
59-under F
COURSE POLICIES
1. WITHDRAWAL: If you are unable to complete this course you must officially withdraw by the University-designated date (for a “W” with instructor approval). Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure that YOU must initiate. I cannot do it for you. If you simply stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive a performance grade, usually an “F.” Your primary responsibility as a student is to master the material presented in class and do the readings. This is an easily achieved objective. Come to class and do the reading! At times concepts or issues raised in class might be unclear. Students come from a variety of backgrounds and have various strengths and weaknesses. If you have any questions or feel unsure about any class material, see me or the TA during office hours as soon as you realize a problem. We will work together to find a solution. DON’T wait until the end of the semester. Please realize that my goal as an instructor is not just to grade, evaluate, and test, but to help you gain a valuable life perspective to carry outside the class, into whatever you do.
2. Acceptable Student Behavior: Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Dean of Students to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at www.deanofstudents.unt.edu.
In this classroom, “acceptable student behavior” specifically means:
A. No cell phone usage. I will ask you to leave the classroom if I see you using your phone.
B. Maintain one classroom conversation. Sometimes topics in anthropology classes can get socially controversial and emotionally exciting, but please contribute only to the central conversation.
C. Engage in the classroom material, not your computer.
D. Always be respectful of other students’ thoughts, opinions, and perspectives.
E. Do not come to class late.
3. SUBMITTING COURSE WORK: All coursework must be submitted physically in class. I will NOT accept work via email, so please do not try. Late work will be accepted for reduced points. Late work will only be accepted for full credit if accompanied by a note from a medical professional. No other exceptions will be considered.
4. DO NOT MISS EXAMS. If you have a conflict with one of the course exams, it is your responsibility to make alternative arrangements as soon as you know – NOT the week of the exam. I allow exam make-up under one circumstance: If a medical professional confirms that you are incapable of taking the exam. Mark the test dates on your calendar: February 14, March 28, May 6-10 (during designated Final time).
5. ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: The Department of Anthropology does not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or helping others to cheat. I am furthermore of a mind that your integrity as a person is ALWAYS worth more than getting an “A” in one course – choosing to not cheat and perhaps get a lower grade is choosing to be a person of whom you can be proud. Students suspected of any of these will be provided the opportunity for a hearing; a guilty finding will merit an automatic “F” in the course. For information on the University’s policies regarding academic integrity and dishonesty, see the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, http://www.unt.edu/csrr/.
6. ADA: The Anthropology Department does not discriminate based on an individual’s disability, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Our program provides academic adjustments or help to individuals with disabilities, and attempts will be made to meet all certified requirements. Please see me if you have a documented disability so that appropriate arrangements can be made to help you get the most out of this class.
7. EXTRA CREDIT: There will be no extra credit opportunities for this course, under any circumstances. I am not responsible for making sure that you receive a given grade, even if you need that grade to maintain financial aid, health insurance, university enrollment, etc… If this is the position you are in, communicate with the TA regularly to make sure that you are taking solid notes and know how to study. If you are worried about your grade, meet with the TA or instructor early in the term. Do not e-mail the instructor about your grade in the last week of classes!
8. E-MAIL 1.0: The best way to reach me is via email, and I require 24 hours to respond to any emails sent between Monday and Friday. Over the weekends and on holidays I require 48 hours to respond. Please include the name of the course you are taking with me in the body of your email. I have over 300 students, and cannot remember which class each individual student is in. If you email me with a question that the syllabus answers, I will not reply to you.
9. E-MAIL 2.0: Make sure that you use your unt.edu e-mail address. If you do not regularly check this e-mail, FORWARD it to your preferred address (such as gmail, Hotmail, or yahoo). You will be held accountable for any information sent to your unt address. DO NOT use the message system within Blackboard Learn.
Course Schedule and Reading Assignments
Unit One: Cultural Anthropology
Date / Topic / Readings / Graded Work DueJanuary 15 / Course Introduction
January 17 / What is Cultural Anthropology? / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 1
January 22 / Culture / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 2
January 24 / Where is Culture? / Miner: ‘Body Ritual among the Nacirema’
January 29 / Ethnographic methods / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 3
January 31 / Fieldwork / Sterk: ‘Tricking and Tripping’; Borges: ‘The Ethnographer’; Venkatesh: ‘Doin’ the Hustle’ / Assignment #1 due: Ethnography of the Naxets
February 5 / Language & Culture / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 5
February 7 / Socio-linguistics / Boroditsky: ‘How Language Shapes Thought’; Napoli: ‘Whose Speech is Better?’
February 12 / Video: Schizopolis / Assignment #2 due: Ethnography of Speech
February 14 / EXAM #1
Unit Two: Culture
February 19 / Symbolic Anthropology / Metcalf: ‘Culture and Nature’February 21 / Meaning / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 7
February 26 / Worldview / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 8
February 28 / Materialism of the Sacred / Harris: ‘Sacred Cows in India’; Rapport: ‘Ritual Regulation’
March 5 / Kinship / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 11
March 7 / Marriage / Schultz & Lavenda: ch. 12
March 19 / Gender / Eller: ‘Learning to be an Individual’
March 21 / Transgender / Nanda: ‘Hijras’; Williams: ‘Berdache Tradition’
March 26 / Video: Monsoon Wedding / Assignment #3 due: Ethnography of Family
March 28 / Exam #2
Unit Three: Society
Date / Topic / Readings / Graded WorkApril 2 / Politics / Eller: ‘Politics’
April 4 / Power / Schultz & Lavenda: 199-221
April 9 / Caste & Race / Schultz & Lavenda: 323-338
April 11 / Ethnicity & Nationalism / Schultz & Lavenda: 338-351
April 16 / Economy / Schultz & Lavenda: Ch. 10
April 18 / Gifts & Commodities / TBA
April 23 / Colonialism / Eller: ‘Colonialism and the Origin of Globalization’
April 25 / Globalization 1: De-territorialization / Schultz & Lavenda: 353-370
April 30 / Globalization 2: Cosmopolitanism / Schultz & Lavenda: 380-391
May 2 / Video: Dirty Pretty Things / Assignment #4 due: Ethnography of Things
Finals Week / Exam #3