ANT 641 Section 001: Culture

The course is open to graduate students in the Department of Anthropology. Graduate students in other departments may be admitted with the instructors permission.

Course Description: The course reviews past and contemporary theories and approaches used in cultural anthropology. Through a chronological examination of theoretical works, the class explores: the various ways the concept of “culture” has been defined and used; how each approach responds to the limitations and critiques of previous approaches; and the lasting legacy of each approach.

By the end of this course students will:

1) know the theories and approaches adopted by cultural anthropologists.

2) be able to distinguish among the definitions of culture adopted by the various theoretical approaches.

3) become more skilled at reading, comprehending, and analyzing scholarly anthropological texts.

4) demonstrate their ability to use anthropological terms and concepts effectively in their writing.

5) develop their own teaching skills by leading classroom discussions and articulating their understanding of class topics in class presentations.

subject to revision as the course progresses

Date	Topic	Assignments
Jan 15	Introduction to the class; What is Culture?	Keesing,  Theories of Culture e-reserves Ortner, Theory in Anthropology Since the Sixties RHAT Bohannan, Shakespeare in the Bush e-reserves
Jan 22	Evolutionism	Tylor, The Science of Culture RHAT Morgan, Ethnical Periods RHAT Spencer, Organic Analogy Reconsidered RHAT
Jan 29	Historicism; Diffusionism	Boaz The Methods of Ethnology RHAT Wissler The Influence of the Horse on the Development of Plains Culture e-reserves
Feb 5	Functionalism	Malinowski The Subject, Method and Scope of This Inquiry [Argonauts of the Western Pacific] RHAT Malinowski Essentials of the Kula [Argonauts] e-reserves
Feb 12	Structural- Functionalism	Radcliff-Brown, Social Structure RHAT Fortes and Evans-Prichard Introduction [African Political Systems] RHAT Evans-Prichard Interest in Cattle [The Nuer] e-reserves Midterm Essay due Feb 15
Feb 19	Culture and Personality	Mead Introduction [Coming of Age in Samoa] RHAT Benedict The Individual and the Pattern of Culture RHAT Strathern Self-Interest and the Social Good: Some Implications of Hagen Gender RHAT
Feb 26	Cultural Materialism; Cultural Ecology	White Energy and Tools RHAT Harris Epistemology of Cultural Materialism RHAT Steward The Concept and Method of Cultural Ecology e-reserves Chagnon Cultural Ecology [Yanomamo] e-reserves Harris Pig Lovers and Pig Haters e-reserves
Mar 5	Structuralism	Levi-Strauss Structuralism and Ecology RHAT Leach Structuralism in Social Anthropology RHAT Douglas The Abominations of Leviticus [Purity and Danger] e-reserves
Mar 12	Political Economy; Globalization	Wolf, E Introduction [Europe and the People Without History] RHAT Wallerstein, I The Capitalist World-Economy ch. 1 e-reserves Bodley, J The Price of Progress e-reserves Weatherford, J Cocaine and the Economic Deterioration of Bolivia e-reserves Appaduarai, A Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Economy RHAT
Mar 19	Symbolic and Interpretive Anthropology	Turner, V Symbols in Ndembu Ritual RHAT Dubisch, J Run for the Wall: An American Pilgrimage e-reserves Fernea E. Symbolizing Roles: Behind the Veil e-reserves Geertz, C Thick Description: Toward an Interpretive Theory of Culture RHAT Geertz, C Notes on the Balinese Cockfight e-reserves Midterm Essay Due March 22
Mar 26		SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS
Apr 2		Review for Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exams for Anthropology MA Students April 4 & 5
April 9	Cognitive Anthropology	D’Andrade, R Cultural Meaning Systems e-reserves Linger, D. Has Culture Theory Lost its Minds? e-reserves Holland, D How Cultural Systems become Desire e-reserves Strauss, C What makes Tony Run? e-reserves
Apr 16	The Postmodern Critique	Foucault, Birth of the Asylum Clifford, J Partial Truths RHAT Marcus, G. and M. M. J. Fischer A Crisis of Representation in the Human Sciences RHAT Midterm Essay Due April 19
Apr 23	Practice Theory; What is Culture?	Bourdieu, The Production and Reproduction of Legitimate Language RHAT Keesing, R Theories of Culture e-reserves Ortner, S. Theory in Anthropology Since the Sixties RHAT
Apr 30	TUESDAY	Final Paper Due no later than 9:30 PM

Assignments include: short summaries/evaluations of class reading; classroom presentations about class texts; essays comparing perspectives on the study of culture from several theoretical approaches; and a final research paper that applies various approaches to students' area of thesis research.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

Participation and class presentation                20%

Short response papers                                     25%

Midterm Essays                                              30%

Final Research paper                                       25%

No late assignments will be accepted, except under extraordinary circumstances. You must make arrangements with me before the due date of assignments so that other arrangements can be made. You may e-mail me (mgalbrai@ua.edu) or call me (348-8412 ).

Attendance is mandatory. Any absences beyond 2 indicate that you are not committed to doing your best in this class and will be reflected in your final grade. Please arrive to class on time with your cell phones off.

Additional Required Articles are available via library e-reserves or Blackboard, and are listed in the Outline of Topics under the day in which they are assigned. We will do a close analysis of texts in class. Come prepared to participate in class discussions, having read the assigned reading. Make sure you highlight key points on the text itself and/or write notes about the readings. Please come to class with paper or electronic copies of assigned readings.

All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.

The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar, sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisories are broadcast via WUOA/WVUA-TV, which can be viewed across Central Alabama. Also, visit wvuatv.com for up-to-the-minute weather information. A mobile Web site is also available for your convenience.