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Anth 112 Cultural Anthropology
A broad, general introduction to selected concepts and topics in cultural anthropology. A number of ethnographies from different world regions will be read, and questions about differing social practices and cultural values will be explored, along with questions about how anthropologists examine the objects of their studies - persons, cultures. societies. The course is designed primarily for first- and second-year students with little background in social sciences.
Anth 114 Introduction to Archaeology
An introduction to the theory and methods of anthropological archaeology and a survey of some of the prehistoric societies in different parts of the world.
Anth 115 Archaeological Field Experience
This course exposes students to the methods and theories of historical archaeology, offering participants the opportunity to conduct an archaeological reconnaissance survey, archaeological excavation and laboratory processing of archaeologically recovered artifacts.
Anth 215 Peoples and Cultures of Africa
A survey of selected African societies. Africa has been the site of invention for many anthropological concepts and problems, and the course introduces students to studies in kinship and social structure, religion and ritual, bodily constructs and healing practice, women's experiences and gender constructs, and performance studies across the continent. The course explores colonial transformations and modern society, and how general, popular images of Africa are engaged by anthropological practice.
Anth 221 Culture, Society and the Individual
An introduction to the theoretical foundations of anthropology. The course examines the emergence of specific problematics in anthropology: What is the relationship of the individual to society? To culture? What are the implications of talking about social life as 'structured'? How do we account for change, and for diversity? Where do we locate creativity and practice? The course introduces these questions through the examination of theoretical sources and selected ethnographic texts.
A critical evaluation of the ways anthropologists study non-Western cultures and the ways in which anthropologists shape the disparate data they have collected into coherent narratives. A practical introduction to fieldwork techniques and to the conventions of anthropological writing.
Anth 233 Cultural Perspectives on the Family and Society
This course examines social relations in the family and society at large. Changing forms of social institutions within the family such as gay and lesbian marriage, the division of labor, new reproductive technologies, and adoption are contrasted with traditional forms. The metaphor of "family" as it applies to such diverse social groups as the mafia, the workplace, and cults is examined.
Anth 238 The Anthropology of Globalization
This course takes a critical look at globalization, both as an idea about the current moment, and as a context in which people respond to, and re-create, contemporary changes. We will pay particular attention to global markets and the flow of people, goods, and ideas; neoliberalism and the rise of nonstate global agencies; the work of the imagination; the apparent contrast between "the global" and "local" knowledge; and the place of the intimate in world-wide change.
Anth 268 Peoples and Cultures of the Mediterranean
An area survey of selected Mediterranean societies, including the comparative analysis of selected European, Middle Eastern and North African cultures. An examination of the central concepts in the social anthropology of this region: honor and shame, the roles of family and kinship, and systems of stratification.
Anth 274 Sex and Gender: An Anthropological Perspective
Are relations of power and status between men and women always unequal? Are gender differences always linked to the same notions of sexuality and sexual practice? These questions will be explored by looking at the ways in which people in various cultures throughout the world define and maintain gender distinctions and order, and conceptualize sexuality.
Anth 281 Visual Anthropology
Explores images of the cultural other, as seen in ethnographic and documentary photographs, films, museums, and other visual media. How do photographs, art, exhibits, and museums reinforce stereotypes of "the primitive" and "the exotic"? In what ways are visual media used to create ethnographic texts and representations? The course will address these topics through a series of films, visual media, and readings.
Anth 282 Anthropology and the Body
A detailed exploration of the body as a cultural construct. The class will examine how the body is imagined through a variety of discourses, including disease, illness and healing; ritual; age and gender; and the political economy of domination and resistance.
Anth 310 The Politics of Identity
This course examines the processes through which people come to think of themselves as part of a group united by shared values, practices, or substance, and the ways in which groups and identities may be challenged. We will examine anthropological ideas about ethnicity and tribalism; nationalism; subcultures and youth identity; and globalization.
Anth 317 Ecological Anthropology
Ecological and materialist approaches in anthropology are introduced in this course. The cross-cultural analysis of production and economy will be examined in foraging, pastoralism/ranching and agricultural systems in local and regional environments. Contemporary issues include global ecology, sustainable food production systems, and human population growth.
Anth 328 Ritual and Worldview
A study of how ritual and religious symbolism define cultural categories and individual experiences. The course will focus on initiation and death rituals, taboo, witchcraft and other idioms of affliction, and on some of the theories anthropologists have used to interpret religious behavior and ideas.
Anth 334 Gifts and Commodities
How do objects, such as gifts, money, commodities, art and aesthetic products, become "valued"? How do exchanges of valued objects shape relationships among people? The place of value and exchange in everyday life is examined through classic statements (for example, Marx, Mauss, and Simmel) and also in selected ethnographies.
Anth 451 Senior Anthropology Workshop
This is a required fall term workshop for students planning to take ANTH 452 in the spring. In the course, we plan the senior seminar, plan research projects for the spring, including assembling reading lists, bibliographies and research materials for the spring seminar. Students prepare and submit a project proposal. We also discuss career planning, and how the anthropology major has prepared students for a variety of post-graduation paths.
Anth 452 Senior Seminar
An examination of the core concepts of anthropology through focused discussion of contemporary topics in anthropology. These topics are selected by students and the professor prior to the beginning of the course each year.