1 Department of Anthropology Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology Anth 101 011 Fall 2010 Class Room Willard Hall Room 319 Class Time 10 10am 11 00am Instructor Dr Donna Budani Office 138 Munroe Hall Office Hours Voice Mail 831 1859 Email budani udel edu Web Page www udel edu anthro budani COURSE DESCRPTION A critical goal of anthropology is to describe analyze and explain different cultures to show how people make sense and give meaning to their lives This course will introduce you to the way anthropologists study cultures Students will learn the key concepts terms and anthropological framework for analysis used by anthropologists in their studies of cultures Culture is best viewed as a system of knowledge that both generates and interprets behavior Everywhere cultural knowledge is encoded in peoples values behaviors norms attitudes and world views One s own culture is invisible while the culture that is different from one s own culture is clearly visible Through class readings and films scheduled for this course students will learn about the cultural diversity found worldwide This learning process involves a fascinating experience in which our western ideas and assumptions are revealed to us and challenged when we learn about the cultures in non western societies COURSE OBJECTIVES 1 To become aware of the relativity of human values and the roles that culturally defined values play in affecting the behavior and ideas of members of different cultures 2 To think critically about your own values beliefs and assumptions that underlie your own cultural knowledge system 3 To create a greater degree of cross cultural awareness by attempting to promote an understanding of and appreciation for richness and diversity of human culture 1 2 4 To correct cultural biases and ethnocentric assumptions concerning the superiority of one s own culture the alleged biological basis of race and the existence of so called primitive peoples 5 To instill a fundamental respect for peoples of other cultures their ways of living and their ways of making sense of their own experiences PART I REQUIRED BOOKS 1 Culture Counts Serna Nanda and Richard Warms authors 2 Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe author 3 Child of All Nations Pramoedya Ananta Toer 4 Applying Cultural Anthropology An Introductory Reader 8th edition Adam Podolefsky Peter J Brown and Scott M Lacy authors IT S A 101 COURSE SO IT S EASY RIGHT This course is challenging and rigorous It requires that you learn new terms concepts and ideas knowledge that is not like anything you studied before To do well in this course begins with your reading your textbooks learning key terms and concepts and jotting down the most important points of what you read Another important task to do is write questions on the chapter material questions that you want explained or clarified or about something that you come across in your reading or about something that happens in the world at large Raise your questions in class Interrupt me to ask questions I do not mind being interrupted I welcome your interruptions ANTHROPOLOGY MAY BE NTERESTING BUT WHAT USE IS IT Regardless of your major the study of cultural anthropology is useful because no matter what your career you will be dealing in a multi cultural work environment where knowledge of how to interact with people culturally different from yourself is invaluable Doctor s will have colleagues and patients from other cultures The same is true for nurses In fact the same applies to just about every major at UDEL including engineers mathematicians business psychology social work early education teaching criminal justice international relations marketing and just about everything else We live and make our living in a multi cultural global universe To function in this universe you need the skills anthropology teaches you SOMETHINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW Nearly all of you are taking this course because it fulfills a requirement Some I hope are taking this course because you are curious or because anthropology sounds like it should be interesting The emphasis in this class is on student active learning which you do yourself by completing your assignments and THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU READ AND LISTEN TO IN LECTURE 2 3 ARE YOU A COLLEGE STUDENT There maybe some of you who think that the work assigned for this class is excessive As a college student you are expected to meet the requirement of this or any other course If you think that the work of the course is excessive please drop the course PART II STUDENT REQUIREMENTS 1 TWO FILM REVIEWS VALUED AT A TOTAL OF 200 POINTS Films shown in this course are of a particular genre they are ethnographic films Ethnographic films are about culture and cultural issues The films present an opportunity to become familiar with cultures different from your own and may encourage you to reflect on your own culture Go to my website at www udel edu anthro budani Scroll down to the heading FALL 2010 AND FIND HEADING ANTH101 OII O81 SCROLL DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND FILE ENTITLED HOW TO WRITE A DOCUMENTARY ETHNOGRAPHIC FILM REVIEW CLICK ON THE FILE AND READ THE INSTRUCTIONS For each film review select any 3 films to review per film review Technical considerations include one inch margins all around line spacing at 1 5 and use a font no larger than 12 No need for cover sheet Insert your name in the left corner of the page and center the title of your film review Skip a line and begin your film review Be sure that you state the exact title of the films you review in your essay Your grade will depend on following the guidelines for the ethnographic film review the thought you give to the film review and the insights you gained from the film Submit your film review to Sakai See Course Schedule for Due Dates for Each Film Review 2 SIX MULTIPLE CHOICE EXAMS BASED ON MATERIAL FROM CULTURE COUNTS VALUED AT A TOTAL OF 540 POINTS Exams will be based on 45 to 50 multiple choice and true false questions Students will be told which chapters in CULTURE COUNTS will be on the test Also if questions based on Power Point Presentations appear on the exam students will be given prior notice about the subject of the questions 3 THREE SHORT ANSWER EXAMS BASED ON READINGS IN APPLYING CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY AN INTRODUCYTORY READER Exams are based on the CRITICAL THINKING QUETIONS found at the beginning of chapters in the reader Applying Cultural Anthropology see ask yourself the fllowing questions The Critical Thinking questions