ANTH 104-03: Introduction to Anthropology
Fall 2003

Instructor  Dr. Brigittine French

Class Meetings

Office: 104 Goodnow

M/W/F  3:15-4:05

Office Hours:  1:00-2:30 M/W/F  

Room: 105 Goodnow

   *and by appointment

E-mail: frenchb@grinnell.edu

Phone:  269-4816

Description

This course is an introduction to anthropology--the study of the human condition in all its past and present forms. We will approach the study of the human condition from perspectives offered by anthropology's four sub-fields: biological anthropology, archeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology.  We will begin the course by considering such questions as: Where did humans come from? In what ways did they evolve?  What is unique about humans as a species?  Next, we will consider the development of human culture in the past as an innovative adaptation.  We will then move to discuss how human cultures are changing in the present, and how we, as cultural beings, deal with and think about differences and similarities between social groups.  We will conclude the course by examining how humans make, use, and transform culture through and with language. Through lectures, films, readings, and class discussions, students will become familiar with key theories, research, themes, and concepts prominent in anthropological thought.  Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking and analytical writing.   

Texts

1)  Abu-Lughod, Lila. 1993.  Writing Women’s Worlds: Bedouin Stories.  Berkeley: University of California Press.  

2)  Angeloni, Elvio ed.  2003.  Annual Editions: Anthropology  2003/2004, 26^th Edition.  Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing Group. 

3)  Fischer, Edward and R. McKenna Brown, eds.  1996.  Maya Cultural Activism in Guatemala.  Austin: University of Texas Press. 

4)  Jurmain, Robert et. al. 2001.  Essentials of Physical Anthropology, 4^th Edition.  United States: Wadsworth.       

5)  Kamp, Kathryn.  1998.  Life in the Pueblo: Understanding the Past Through Archaeology.  Prospect Heights: Waveland Press. 

6)  Kottak, Conrad.  1998.  Assault on Paradise: Social Change in a Brazilian Village, 3^rd Edition.  New York: McGraw-Hill. 

7)  Reserve readings.  Two copies of the readings will be in the anthropology reading room on the 3^rd floor of Goodnow Hall.  The building is open M-F from 8:00-5:00.  Students may sign out the materials for one hour in order to make personal copies.    

Requirements

1)  Exams:  There will be three exams consisting primarily of short answer and essay questions designed to address course materials covered in lectures, readings, videos, and class discussions.

2)  Papers:  There will be two short (4-5 page) typed papers.  No late papers will be accepted without prior approval. 

3) Participation is an essential component of individual and collective performance in this course.  Attendance and participation will be noted and evaluated.  As we will frequently discuss course materials, please bring readings to class each meeting. 

Grading

Exam One

20%

(40 pts.)

Exam Two

20%

(40 pts.)

Exam Three

20%

(40 pts.)

Paper One

15%

(30 pts.)

Paper Two

15%

(30 pts.)

Discussion/Participation

10%

(20 pts.)

Students with Disabilities:

Anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements should inform me so that appropriate arrangements may be made.  Please see me after class or during my office hours. 

INTRODUCTION: HUMANS, HOLISM, AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL ENDEAVORS

Questions:  What is anthropology?  What do anthropologists do? 

F, Aug 29

Course introduction

M, Sept 1

Read www.aaanet.org/anthbroc.htm

Jurmain et.al p 6-12

TOPIC ONE: HUMAN ORIGINS, HUMAN ANCESTORS

Questions:  How does adaptation relate to evolution?  How can studying primates inform knowledge of human evolution? Who were australopithecines?  What does their diversity tell us about the process of human evolution?     

W, Sept 3

Jurmain et. al Chapter 2 “The Development of Evolutionary Theory,” Chapter 3 “The Biological Basis of Life,” and Chapter 4 “Heredity and Evolution”

F, Sept 5

Jurmain et. al Chapter 5 “An Overview of the Living Primates,” and Chapter 6 “Primate Behavior”

M, Sept 8

Film: Monkey in the Mirror 

W, Sept 10

"Can Apes Learn Language?" (reserve readings)

"Language Training of Apes" (reserve readings)

F, Sept12

Jurmain et. al Chapter 7 “Mammalian/Primate Evolutionary History”

M, Sept 15

Jurmain et. al Chapter 8 “Hominid Origins”

W, Sept 17

Jurmain et. al Chapter 9 “Homo erectus and Contemporaries”

TOPIC TWO: THE "NATURE" AND "CULTURE" OF EARLY AND PREHISTORIC HUMANS

Questions:   What transformations in the Homo lineage led to modern humans? How, when, and under what conditions did modern Homo sapiens evolve?  How is culture an adaptation?  What can we learn about culture from the study of material remains?     

F, Sept 19

Jurmain et al. Chapter 10 “Neandertals and Other Archaic Homo sapiens”

Gibson, "Tool use, language, and social behavior in relationship to information processing capacities" (reserve readings)

M, Sept 22

Jurmain et. al Chapter 11 “Homo sapiens sapiens”

PAPER ONE “THE UNIQUENESS OF HUMAN LANGUAGE” DUE IN CLASS

W, Sept 24

FOSSIL IDENTIFICATION EXERCISE

F, Sept 26

Kamp, Chapters 1-3

Annual Editions #5 "Battle of the Bones"

M, Sept 29

Film: Other People’s Garbage

W, Oct 1

Kamp, Chapters 4-6

F, Oct 3

Kamp, Chapters 7-9

M, Oct 6

Kamp, Chapters 10-11

W, Oct 8

EXAM ONE 

TOPIC THREE: CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC RELATIVISM: THINKING THROUGH "CULTURE," STRUGGLING WITH SAMENESS AND DIFFERENCE

Questions:  What is “culture?"  Who/What is "primitive"?  Who/What is "modern"?   How do we interpret and construct cultural "sameness" and "difference"?

F, Oct 10

Annual Editions #31  "Body Rituals of the Nacerima" and Annual Editions # 19 "Shakespeare in the Bush"

M, Oct 13

Film: Cannibal Tours

W, Oct 15

Sapir, “The Unconscious Patterning of Behavior in Society” (reserve readings)

F, Oct 17

Salzmann, “Language and Culture” (reserve readings)

TOPIC FOUR: TRANSFORMATIONS IN SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEMS AND CULTURAL PRACTICES

Questions:  Who/What is developed?  What are the consequences of "development" and "modernization"?

M, Oct 27

Annual Editions #4 "Eating Christmas in Kalahari," #13  "Life Without Chiefs"

W, Oct 29

Film: N!ai

Annual Editions # 36 “The Price of Progress”

F, Oct 31

Kottak,  Part One “A Story of Change”

M, Nov 3

Kottak, Part Two “ Paradise”

W, Nov 5

Kottak, Part Three “Assault on Paradise”

F, Nov 7

Kottak, Part Four “Reality” (to page 206.) 

M, Nov 10

EXAM TWO

TOPIC FIVE: SOCIAL REPRODUCTION: KINSHIP, THE FAMILY, AND SOCIAL ORDER

Questions:  How is the institution of family shaped by the dominant social order?  What is the role of gender in maintaining family?  What is the role of gender in maintaining the social order?   

W, Nov 12

Annual Editions #14 “When Brothers Share a Wife” and

#18 “Parallel Brides”

F, Nov 14

Annual Editions  #22 "Society and Sex Roles"

Abu-Lughod, “Patrilineality”