Anthropology in Historical Perspective

Instructors

• Robert Launay - 847/491-4841 - 1810 Hinman Ave., Room #205, EV Campus

Meeting Info

• ANTHRO Sem Rm 104 - 1810 Hinmn - TuTh 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

• Rather than attempting the impossible--an overview of the whole history of the discipline of anthropology-this course will focus on one particular problem: the relationship between theory and ethnographic description in cultural Anthropology. The course will attempt to survey the development
  of certain schools of thought in the discipline since the mid-nineteenth century: evolutionism; historical particularism; structural-functionalism; culture and personality; cultural materialism; interpretive anthropology.
  
  In order to examine the ways in which each of these theoretical approaches affects the ways in which anthropologists choose to describe what they observe, the class will read a series of ethnographies (or excerpts from larger works) written at different times from different points of view.

Teaching Method

• Lectures will alternate with class discussions. Lectures will trace the broad outlines of the development of the discipline, placing the readings within the context of contemporary anthropological ideas as well as broader trends in European and American society and thought. Class discussions will focus on weekly reading assignments.

Evaluation Method

• There will be three short (5-10 page) papers. Participation in class discussion will be considered an integral part of the class. There will be no exams.

Class Materials (Required)

• 1) Malinowski, Argonauts of the W. Pacific;
  2) Morgan, Ancient Society;
  3) E.E. Evans-Pritchard, The Nuer;
  4) Margaret Mead, Coming of Age in Samoa;
  5) Launay, Foundations of Anthropological Theory.

Class Notes

• Required of all anthropology majors.

Class Attributes

• No P/N option for this section
  
  

Current as of 05/03/13 01:06:59 PM

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