ANT 307
(Introduction to the study
of culture through communication and the theory of signs)
Office EPS 2.204 Office Hours
Web Page
Syllabus: http://www.utexas.edu/courses/stross/ant307_files/ant307.htm
Writing
Component
(satisfied) This is the honors section
of the course.
Why
do we humans sometimes not say what we mean and sometimes not mean what we
say? And how does communication
contribute to culture and vice versa?.
This course intends to introduce culture as a crucial component of human
communication and reproduction, and to examine some of the ways that
communication both creates and depends upon culture. As language is the main mode of human communication, we start by
outlining basic concepts in linguistics.
However, whereas linguistics focuses on the structure of a communication
system dealing primarily with vocal-auditory signals and with referential
meaning, we will also consider several other aspects of meaning in language,
focusing as much on language use as on language structure, and we will consider
other cultural systems and modes of communication besides language, and the
association of meaning with them. In the
process we will examine, various expressive speech genres, metaphors that we
live by, the power of language, gender preferences in communication, learning
language, proverbs, jokes, and multilingualism, among other topics.
The study of
communication is, among other things,
the study of the media, codes, and signs (icons, indexes, and
symbols) that give form and expression
to discourse. Its emphasis is on the rules and structure of discourse,
investigating how signs are organized to convey meaning. The study of
communication extends beyond language to include the forms, structure and
effects of such media as wireless telephony, computers, the internet, radio,
television, and film. We will be
concerned with the impact of various media (that are part of the communication revolution) on children,
commerce, and education, and on its social, political, spiritual, and aesthetic
effects. In essence we want to know how
forms of communication shape our culture and how our culture has been shaping
communication.
We
will attempt to cover a broad range of topics, so that depth of coverage of any
of them will have to be limited. It is
hoped that a wide ranging introductory survey such as this will provide
incentive for the student to explore specific issues in greater depth in future
coursework.
One
midterm exam (25% and one final (25%)
and
two formal written projects totaling 15 pages (40%)
and
one informal written exercise (4-5 pages) 10 % of grade.
Textbooks:
Required:
Required 1)
Tracy Novenger 2001. Intercultural Commmunication: A Practical Guide.
Required 2)
Deborah Tannen 1986. That's Not What I Meant.
Required 3)
Keith Basso. 1979. Portraits of the Whiteman.
Recommended (and on reserve):
E.T.
Hall The Silent Language.
E.T.
Hall Beyond Culture..
Deborah
Tannen 1990. You Just Don't Understand.
Deborah
Tannen 1994. Talking from 9 to 5.
Nancy
Bonvillain. 2000 Language, Culture,
and Communication.
Robert L. Young. 1999. Understanding Misunderstandings.
Prerequisites
Area
Credit Area B
SWC Credit this is a Substantial Writing Component
course
SWC
Proposal Number: 117
Approval Status: Created
Proposed Course: ANT 307-Culture and Communication
Instructor: Brian M Stross
Proposal's Begining Semester: Fall 2006
Freewriting, microthemes, comments, questions on readings, journals (online or one paper):
Essays, analysis, argument (books, articles, film, video, web, or other texts):
Research Paper:
11/08/2005