ANTH 101 01
Introduction to Anthropology:
Instructor: Dr. Norbert Ross
Meeting Time: Tue & Thurs 11-12:10
Meeting Location: Wilson Hall 126
Office Hours: Tue
& Thurs
Anthropology is the science of
mankind in its entirety. This class will provide you with a systematic overview
of the field of Anthropology and Cultural Anthropology in particular. By
exploring cross cultural differences and commonalities, the course intends to
make you aware of human nature and the way common sense is constructed. During
the course we will visit different parts of the world in movies, readings and
lectures. This should allow us to shake the foundations of our ethnocentrism, the idea of perceiving of
our own standards and common sense as “normal” or even “natural”.
We will learn about the various
fields and topics in which anthropology engages and how anthropology differs
from related disciplines such as psychology, sociology and political sciences.
While anthropology shares many of the questions and concerns with these
disciplines, it uniquely takes a holistic
perspective and employs a distinctive methodology: long term field work with participant observation. This allows the
anthropologist to get a more comprehensive understanding of a culture and the
individuals that make it up.
During this class you will develop
a good knowledge of (1) basic concepts in anthropology, (2) important findings
in the field, (3) research methods, as well as (4) an overview of some of the cultures
of the world.
STRUCTURE AND
REQUIREMENTS
The class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays and will include
a mixture of lecture and discussions. Several books have been selected for the
class, all available at the Vanderbilt bookstore:
(1) Haviland et al.; Cultural
Anthropology: The human challenge.
(2) Ferraro, G.; Classic
(3) Quinlan, M.; From the Bush: The Frontline of Health Care
in a
(To be read
by Oct. 6th)
(4) Payer, L;. Medicine
& Culture.
(To be read
by Oct. 11th)
(5) Crocker & Crocker; The Canela: Kinship, Ritual, and Sex in an Amazonian Tribe.
(To be read by November 8rd)
ASSIGNED
GRADING
2 quizzes 20% (Sept. 8th; Nov. 17th)
Midterm 25% (Oct. 20th)
Final 25% (Dec. 6th)
Internet Research on a Culture 10% Due: Sept. 20th
Book Review 10% Due: Oct. 11th
Research Report 10% Due Nov. 15th
The Vanderbilt honors code will be applied to all exams
and papers!
LETTER GRADE DETERMINATION
In converting your numerical average to a letter
grade, fractions will be rounded to the nearest whole number and the following
scale will apply:
A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F <60
CLASS FORMAT
Although the course is mainly a lecture class, I do expect interaction from my students. Participation (answering and asking questions) will be noted and used in your grading (especially in borderline cases). I do not lecture from the textbook; therefore, you must come prepared to the classes. Generally, you may interrupt me during lectures, although, if necessary, I might defer your question to the end of the class.
At the end of each class I will provide 5 to 10 minutes for
questions and discussions.
There will be two discussion classes, during which the class will split up in four groups according to your assignment to a TA.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
While the lecture will cover the topic of the readings, new
and different concepts might be introduced in the readings, lectures and movies.
Therefore class participation is obligatory. Missing class several times will
lead to a grade penalty.
Information presented in the readings, lectures and movies
will be subject to testing in quizzes and exams.
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Molly Morgan molly.morgan@vanderbilt.edu
Jennifer Foley Jennifer.m.foley@vanderbilt.edu
Jennifer Zovar jennifer.m.zovar@vanderbilt.edu
Mike Callaghan michael.g.callaghan@vanderbilt.edu
Mike Tidwell michael.r.tidwell@vanderbilt.edu
Each Teaching Assistant will work with a group of students
(alphabetically divided).
This means:
- Generally TA’s
will respond to Emails within one day.
- They will be available before and
after class to answer short questions.
- But more importantly, they hold
office hours. Please come prepared to these office hours.
In general, direct
questions first to your TA, who may then pass the questions on to me.
Because of the large class, this is much more efficient than trying to get an
immediate answer from me. You can send your questions by email to your TA. If
possible, we will try to give an answer immediately, if not we will get back to
you as soon as we know the answer to your question… we do not know everything!
Each paper will be read and graded
by two students and discrepancies will be discussed with me.
Obviously, I have office hours and hope to see many of you
at one point in my office. Please come prepared to these meetings, e.g. with a
clearly formulated question, idea, etc.
ASSIGNED WRITINGS
Each student will write three papers as part of this course (see attached document). The first paper consists of a book review. In addition each student will write a research paper and a report of one culture, based on findings in the Internet.
For the book review each student picks ONE of the following two books:
(1) Crocker & Crocker: The Canela: Kinship, Ritual, and Sex in an Amazonian Tribe.
(2) Quinlan, M.: From the Bush: The
Frontline of Health Care in a
For the research paper each student picks a topic of his /
her choice (for suggestions meet with your TA). Each topic has to be approved
by the TA.
For the Internet research on a culture, each student picks one cultural group and describes it according to the findings on the Internet. Prior to picking a cultural group you should check whether there is online information available on that group.
Each of the writing assignment should consist of 3 single
spaced pages (Times New Roman; 12 point font). Writing assignments have to be
handed to the TA at the beginning of the class at the due date. Due dates are
marked in the syllabus and it is the students responsibility to start the work
for each assignment in time. Papers have to be handed in as hard copies, with
the exception of the internet research paper, which can be handed in on a CD or
DISK (no Email!). Pictures and Maps are welcome and at times needed, but do not
count toward the page count.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS
Late assignments will be penalized 15 points for every 24 hour period
beginning at the due date and time. It is extremely important that you
turn your work in on time.
EXAMS
The midterm and final exam consist of full hour exams using multiple
choice as well as essay questions. The dates for the quizzes and exams are to
be found in the syllabus.
MAKE-UP EXAMS
Make-ups are only given in extraordinary circumstances, which are generally limited to sickness or a death in the family. You should notify the instructor before (or the day of) the exam either by email or telephone, and you must provide written documentation explaining your absence. It is up to the instructor’s discretion to decide to give you a make-up exam or quiz.
SOME HELPFUL
RESOURCES
Library Resources for Anthropology and Archaeology:
http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/anthro.html
Virtual Library on Anthropology:
For Anthropology in the News:
http://anthropology.tamu.edu/news.htm
For Internships and Career Opportunities:
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/anthro/internshipsandcareers
For an online cultural anthropology tutorial:
http://anthro.palomar.edu/tutorials/cultural.htm
for a specific online tutorial on “culture”:
http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/default.htm
for a specific tutorial on language and culture: http://anthro.palomar.edu/language/default.htm
See the Encyclopedia of World Cultures (Vanderbilt Library) for descriptions of specific cultural groups.
SYLLABUS
OVERVIEW. This first section introduces you to Anthropology as a discipline and some
of the
basic concepts and methods used.
Class 1; August 25th; Thursday
Introduction; Requirements; Structure;
Class 2; August 30th; Tuesday
The Study of Humanity; Studying the human condition;
Class 3; September 1st; Thursday
The Four Fields of Anthropology
Presentations by J. Zovar; M. Callaghan & M. Tidwell
Class 4; September 6th; Tuesday:
The Concept of Culture; Culture & Relativism
Class 5; September 8th; Thursday
Anthropological Research Methods;
NO SPECIFIC
Quiz 1
Class 6; September 13th; Tuesday
Human Culture, Nature and Nurture
Mike Tidwell
LANGUAGE. Anthropologists study language from different angles. Language
differences,
language as social marker, and expression of ones background etc. Another way
of looking at language is the question of whether it provides food for thought
(the categories we think with or not).
Class 7; September 15th; Thursday
Language, Dialects and Communication
Mike Callaghan
Class 8; September 20th; Tuesday
Language and Thought; From Sapir-Whorf to Right and Left.
Paper 1 Due; Internet Research Report.
Class 9; September 22; Thursday
Cultural Models: Identity & Personality
Class 10; September 27th; Tuesday
Cultural
change, Enculturation and Child Development
RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY AND MEDICINE. In this section we will explore
religion
and spirituality as frameworks to think and reason about the world. In a next
step, we will visit Eduardo a shamans in
Class 11; September 29th; Thursday
Spirituality, Religion and the Supernatural
Class 12; October 4th; Tuesday
Tzotzil Maya Souls and the Supernatural
Class 13; October 6th; Thursday
Disease, Religion, Magic and Placebo
Class 14; October 11th; Tuesday
Placebo effect and International Medicine
Due date: Book review
TALK BY ELSIE ELROD, TRANSGENDER WOMAN
Class 15; October 13th; Thursday
Discussion Class with TA; Room TBA
During October 14th
through 16th Native American Indian Association of Tennessee (NAIA)
celebrates the 24th Annual Pow Wow at Long
Hunter State Park in Nashville TN; 2910 Hobson Pike. (From
Class 16; October 18th; Tuesday:
Cultural Resiliency and Resurgence 1: Native American Pow Wow.
Discussion of
CLASS 17; OCTOBER 20TH; THURSDAY: MIDTERM EXAM
OCTOBER 25th;
TUESDAY: NO CLASS;
ECONOMIC ANTHROPOLOGY. This section looks at different economic system and
ways of
making a living. While some of the subsistence patterns depend on the
environment others do not. Yet in no situation does the environment determine
the existing system or the behavior of individuals in it.
Class 18; October 27th; Thursday
Patterns of Subsistence;
Class 19; November 1st; Tuesday
Production and Exchange
Class 20; November 3rd; Thursday
Economic Behavior and Ecology; Case study from the Itza’ Maya
FAMILY , KINSHIP, AND GENDER. This section of the course deals with how
people
form groups and how they decide on personal relationships. While sexual
relations are necessary for procreation, the way gender roles are defined and
sexual relations play out vary extensively from one culture to the next.
Class 21; November 8th; Tuesday
Family, Marriage and Sex
Class 22; November 10th; Thursday
Family and Household
Suggested: Ferraro, Chapt. 6 & 8.
Class 23; November 15th; Tuesday
Family and Household
Suggested
Due date: Research Paper.
CHANGE AND GLOBALZATION. Globalization means that every corner of the earth
is
related to every other place. Yet the connections are not symmetrical and
people have a say in how to adjust to new information. In this section we will
explore the role of global forces and the impact they have on local cultures.
We will learn, however, that individuals of local cultures should not be seen as
passive recipients but actively create their fate within changing
circumstances.
Class 24; November 17th; Thursday
Cultural Change: The erosion of Lacandon and Tzotzil Maya Plant Knowledge.
Suggested: Ross (2002); Cognitive Aspects of Intergenerational Change.
In Human Organization, Vol. 61, No.2:125-138.
Quiz 2
NOVEMBER 22nd; NO CLASS
NOVEMBER 24th; NO CLASS
Class 25; November 29th; Tuesday
Discussion Class with TA; Room TBA
Class 26; December 1st; Thursday
Global Challenges and local
responses: The role of Anthropology. The Zapatista movement
of
Review Session
CLASS 27; DECEMBER 6th;
TUESDAY: FINAL EXAM
Class 28; December 8th; Thursday; Last day of
class