Carleton College
Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Social Anthropology
Winter 1997

As a general introduction to social and cultural anthropology, this course is centrally concerned with the problems and prospects involved in the social scientific study of other cultures. It aims to expose the student to the basic theoretical principles of the discipline through a critical reading of ethnographic cases representing cultures of Oceania, Africa, Asia, North and South America. We start by examining the major subfields of anthropology, fieldwork and the ethnographic method, and anthropological concepts of culture, language, and ecology. Emphasizing the significance of exchange in social relations, we next examine structural-functional approaches to the cross-cultural study of economic, political, kinship, and religious institutions. Then we investigate how status, gender, and age frame the expression of social roles. The last part of the course explores the current reconfiguration of anthropological theory, as well as its practical applications in a postcolonial world. We conclude with a discussion of why an anthropological perspective will be increasingly relevant for the 21st century.

One of the fundamental goals of this course is to heighten awareness among students regarding the methodological and existential difficulties implicit in the systematic study of cultures. We discuss the extent to which it may or may not be possible to frame value-free hypotheses, examine culture and/or gender-bound bias in ethnographic writing, and analyze the relative strengths and weaknesses of holistic, perspectival, and comparative approaches. We also debate what "outsiders" are apt to miss in the analysis of other cultures and what "insiders" may not recognize in the analysis of their own, in addition to those aspects of culture that each perspective may be more likely to detect.

It is the aim of this course to facilitate intercultural dialogue in several ways. First, the diversity of backgrounds among both students and authors sets the stage for various perspectives to be represented in classroom discussions, and alternate interpretations of ethnographic narratives are actively solicited to encourage critical thinking. Finally, the readings for most weeks have been explicitly structured such that articles describing beliefs and practices of foreign cultures are purposefully juxtaposed to readings describing comparable customs among people in the United States. Thus, by "familiarizing the exotic" and "exoticizing the familiar," students are sensitized to issues of cultural difference and similarity. In this way, the course endeavors to stimulate intercultural understanding by creating a learning situation in which students can view their own culture as well as that of others from new vantage points.

All designated readings are required, whether they are in your textbooks or on reserve in the library. Recommended readings are optional. The student's grade for this course is based upon a midterm (20%), an hour exam on the last day of class (20%), one library assignment and one analytical essay, each being 5-6 pages in length (60%, i.e. 30% each). Daily attendance and participation in class discussions are required and will be used in determining grades for borderline cases.

Key Dates: Thur 1/30 Library exercise due Thur 2/6 1st hour exam Thur 3/6 Analytic essay due Tues 3/11 2nd hour exam Note: If you have any special needs which may affect your performance in this class, and which you feel I should know about, I encourage you to speak with me early in the term.

Both of the hour exams are intended to show not only that one has attended the lectures and completed the readings but more importantly to demonstrate how well one has understood them. Exceptional performances will be indicated by how well students are able to reformulate familiar materials in new ways. The 1st exam will cover topics discussed during the first part of the term. The 2nd exam will not be comprehensive but will focus only on the second half of the course.

Daily class attendance is expected; dates when papers are due are no exception. Students are also expected to enter into the discussion of course topics, both when we break into our smaller discussion groups as well as when we come together as a class. The amount one speaks, however, is less important than the quality of things which are said. At the same time, please don't feel that pearls of wisdom are expected to come from your mouth every time you open it. Literally, the dumbest question is the one left unasked. Often times many people are wondering the same thing. In short, I strive to generate an atmosphere in which you feel free to think creatively, hash out ideas, and challenge -- each other as well as me.

These two assignments are designed for students to demonstrate more formal writing and thinking skills outside of examination settings. The library exercise aims to familiarize students with the new information retrieval systems and proper citation methods, particularly as they relate to anthropological sources. The analytic essay enables the student to demonstrate his or her creativity in the areas of critical thinking and the interpretation of cultural materials. More specific information on these assignments will be handed out later in the course. Both papers will be graded on content as well as mechanics (grammar, spelling, proof reading, etc).

Carl Sagan, "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection." In The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. Chapter 12, pp. 201-218. New York: Random House. 1995 Required Texts The following books, available at the Bookstore, are required for this course:

1. James Spradley and David McCurdy, CONFORMITY AND CONFLICT. 1994
2. Marjorie Shostack, NISA. 1983.
3. Carol Stack, ALL OUR KIN. 1974.
4. Keith Basso, PORTRAITS OF "THE WHITEMAN." 1979.
5. Renato Rosaldo, CULTURE AND TRUTH. 1993.

The Scope of Anthropology

Tues 1/14 "Doing Ethnography" -- Fieldwork and the Culture Concept
In Conformity and Conflict: Laura Bohannan, "Shakespeare in the Bush"
Richard Lee, "Eating Christmas in the Kalahari"
In Culture and Truth: "Grief and a Headhunter's Rage"
On Reserve: Finish Reading: Clifford Geertz, "Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture." In: The Interpretation of Cultures. Chapter 1. pp. 3-30.
Lila Abu-Lughod, "Writing Against Culture." In Recapturing Culture: Working in the Present. R. Fox (ed.), Chapter 8. pp. 137-162. Santa Fe: School of American Research Press. 1991.
Optional (On Reserve): David Berreby, "Unabsolute Truths: Clifford Geertz." The New York Times Magazine, April 9, 1995.

Language and Culture

Tues 1/21 Boasian Perspectives on Language, Race, and Culture
Film: "Franz Boas: 1852-1942"
On Reserve: Franz Boas, "Introduction." Handbook of American Indian Languages. (part I is required, part II is recommended, pp. 1-39). Bureau of American
Ethnology. 1911. (Reprinted by University of Nebraska, 1966.)
Franz Boas, "Living Philosophies II, An Anthropologist's Credo," The Nation. August 1938.

Thur 1/23 Sociolinguistics
Basso, Portraits of "the Whiteman" (all)

Environment and Adaptation

Thur 1/30 Continuation / Tarahumara Subsistence Patterns (Slides)
In Nisa: Chp 1. "Earliest Memories," Chp 2. "Family Life," Chp 3. "Life in the Bush"

Social Relations as Exchange: Economics, Politics, and Kinship

Thur 2/6 Midterm (1st Hour Exam)

Tues 2/11 The Power of Families: Kinship and Alliance
Carol Stack, All Our Kin (Chapters 4-7)
In Nisa : Chp. 5 "Trial Marriages," Chp. 6 "Marriage," Chp. 7 "Wives and Co-Wives"

Thur 2/13 Continuation
In Conformity and Conflict: Jack McIver Weatherford, "Kinship and Power on Capitol Hill"
Melvyn Goldstein, "When Brothers Take a Wife"
Margery Wolf, "Uterine Families and the Women's Community"
On Reserve: Kalman Applbaum, "Marriage with the Perfect Stranger." Ethnology 34 (1): 1995

Religious Beliefs and Practices

Constructing Inequality

Tues 2/25 Portraits of Power: Gender, Age, and Group Membership
In Conformity and Conflict: David D. Gilmore, "Manhood"
Elizabeth Fernea and Robert Fernea, "Symbolizing Roles: Behind the Veil"
Ernestine Friedl, "Society and Sex Roles"
On Reserve: David Kertzer, "Flaming Crosses and Body Snatchers." From Ritual, Politics, amd Power. 1990

Reconfiguring Anthropology

Tues 3/4 The Pros and Cons of the "New" Anthropology
Renato Rosaldo, Culture and Truth (Chapters 1-4)
On Reserve: Takami Kuwayama, "A Japanese Anthropologist's Response to 'Contested Pasts and the Practice of Anthropology' " American Anthropologist, pp. 704-706, Vol. 95. No. 3, 1993.
E. N. Anderson, "How Much Can we Privilege 'Native' Accounts?" American Anthropologist, pp. 706-707, Vol. 95. No. 3, 1993.

Thur 3/6 Putting Theory to Work for the 21st Century
Renato Rosaldo, Culture and Truth (Chapters 5-9, and Epilogue)
Browse the :
Anthropology on the Internet
Prospects
Networked Anthropological Resources
In Conformity and Conflict: David McCurdy, "Using Anthropology"
John H. Bodley, "Progress and Tribal Peoples"
On Reserve: Gerald Berreman, "Contemporary Anthropology and Moral Accountability." In Anthropology Full Circle, Rossi et. al. (eds), 1977.
Optional
Phillip Dennis, "The Life of A Culture Broker," Human Organization, pp. 303-308, Vol 53. No. 3. 1994.
David H. P. Maybury-Lewis, "A Special Sort of Pleading: Anthropology and the Service of Ethnic Groups." In: Advocacy and Anthropology, Robert Paine, ed. 1985.

Tues 3/11 2nd Hour Exam

Anthropology on the Internet