Kaushik Ghosh

This course focuses on "classic" themes in anthropology such as ethnicity, language, adaptation, marriage, kinship, gender, religion, and social stratification.  We will consider anthropological theory from its 19th-century origins to the present.  The course also explores the nature of ethnographic field work, especially the relationship between the anthropologist and the field community.  
The lectures, readings, and films for this course have been selected with the objective of exploring the social meanings with which diverse groups invest their life.  By comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences between "us" and "others," both within the borders of the U.S. and abroad, the anthropological perspective can expose some of our own cultural assumptions and enable us to better understand diverse cultures.

This course focuses on "classic" themes in anthropology such as ethnicity, language, adaptation, marriage, kinship, gender, religion, and social stratification.  We will consider anthropological theory from its 19th-century origins to the present.  The course also explores the nature of ethnographic field work, especially the relationship between the anthropologist and the field community.  
The lectures, readings, and films for this course have been selected with the objective of exploring the social meanings with which diverse groups invest their life.  By comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences between "us" and "others," both within the borders of the U.S. and abroad, the anthropological perspective can expose some of our own cultural assumptions and enable us to better understand diverse cultures.

This course introduces students to theory in sociocultural anthropology from its colonial roots to the contemporary period. This course is not a history of anthropological theory, but will provide a chronological and contextualized perspective as we explore and interpret the relationships between varying and, at times, competing theoretical, epistemological, and ethical claims on anthropology.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This course aims to provide undergraduate students – primarily anthropology majors but also those in allied disciplines like English, Philosophy, Political Science History and Sociology – a firm grounding in anthropological theory of culture.  It examines the approaches that have established the intellectual foundations of contemporary socio-cultural anthropology. It begins by introducing students to contemporary discussions about cultural anthropology and the debates around representation and culture. We will then move to social theories of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim. It then turns to developments within anthropology itself, beginning with the work of Franz Boas and his followers in the United States and that of Bronislaw Malinowski, A.R. Radcliffe-Brown and their followers in Britain and the developments in France. After that it looks at several trends, schools and traditions that flourished in the second half of the 20th century, including symbolic anthropology, structuralism, poststructuralism and political economy. The third and final part of the course starts by examining the relationship between history and anthropology and theoretical contributions of Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault and Raymond Williams. This prepares the ground for discussion of issues that are central to contemporary theoretical debates, including questions of agency and the subject, the impact of feminist theory, modes of domination and resistance, globalization, and the practice of ethnography.

The course is also very crucial for those thinking of attending graduate school in anthropology.

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

1) Attendance and Participation

The particular format of discussion will vary through the semester, but all students will have the opportunity (and responsibility) to lead a seminar-type discussion of some topic on at least one occasion. You are expected to attend lectures regularly and to participate actively in seminar discussions. 25% of the overall course grade will be awarded on the basis of regular attendance, seminar leadership, and active participation in class discussions.

2) Writing Assignments

Writing assignments will make up the remaining 75% of the grade. Every student will write three 6-page papers (double-spaced) during the course (approximately 1500 words in length).  Each of these papers will be worth 25% of the overall grade. The first paper will be written on a topic selected from a list to be distributed separately. The topic of the second paper is to be decided by the student in consultation with the instructor. Like the first paper, however, it should address issues that are raised in the texts, lectures and seminar discussions.  In writing them, you will not be expected to refer to any texts beyond those that are on the assigned reading list. In evaluating these papers, the greatest weight will be given to such qualities as logical coherence, cogent argument, judicious assessment, clarity of expression, the ability to make connections between different texts and theories, and originality of thinking.

3) Summary of Grading         

            a) Discussion leadership, class participation and attendance .................................. 25%

            c) Three short papers, each worth 25%...................................................................  75%

                                                                                                                                             100%

(Please note that this Syllabus is “in progress” and not yet finalized; some books and readings will change.)

1) Textbooks

a) Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels.  1978. The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert Tucker (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.

b) Emile Durkheim. 1972. Selected Writings, edited by Anthony Giddens. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

c) Pierre Bourdieu.  1977.  Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press.

d)  Foucault, Michel.  1976.  History of Sexuality, vol. 1.  Pantheon

e) Raymond Williams. 1977.  Marxism and Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 

f)  Taussig, Michael. 1980. The Devil and Commodity Fetishism.  Chapel Hill: UNC.

2) Course Packets: There is a Course Pack available at Speedway Printers in Dobie Mall.

This course focuses on "classic" themes in anthropology such as ethnicity, language, adaptation, marriage, kinship, gender, religion, and social stratification.  We will consider anthropological theory from its 19th-century origins to the present.  The course also explores the nature of ethnographic field work, especially the relationship between the anthropologist and the field community.  
The lectures, readings, and films for this course have been selected with the objective of exploring the social meanings with which diverse groups invest their life.  By comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences between "us" and "others," both within the borders of the U.S. and abroad, the anthropological perspective can expose some of our own cultural assumptions and enable us to better understand diverse cultures.

This course focuses on "classic" themes in anthropology such as ethnicity, language, adaptation, marriage, kinship, gender, religion, and social stratification.  We will consider anthropological theory from its 19th-century origins to the present.  The course also explores the nature of ethnographic field work, especially the relationship between the anthropologist and the field community.  
The lectures, readings, and films for this course have been selected with the objective of exploring the social meanings with which diverse groups invest their life.  By comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences between "us" and "others," both within the borders of the U.S. and abroad, the anthropological perspective can expose some of our own cultural assumptions and enable us to better understand diverse cultures.