CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(ANTH 100)
Prof. Vincenza Kay
( kayv@mail.montclair.edu  )

ANTHROPOLOGY: The study of humankind, its similarities and diversities, across the world, and through time: an holistic approach.

TEXTS:

Cultural Anthropology, Crapo, R.H., Dushkin, 3rd edition.
A Street in Marrakech, Ferner, E.W., Waveland.
Yanomamo, Chagnon, N.

REQUIREMENTS:

Two exams:  mid-term and final
One reaction paper, topic choice to be discussed in class.  Paper length to be 5 double-spaced pages.
Short reading-analyses throughout semester based on texts.

NOTE:  Mod-term, final, reaction paper, and reading-analyses/class assignment each count for 25% of the semester grade.  (Class preparedness and participation is essential.)  EXAMS BASED ON CLASS LECTURES AND READINGS.  (Class attendance is central to a successful completion of this course.)

TOPICAL OUTLINE

A.   Introduction to Anthropology; major branches, major concepts,
the holistic approach (theoretically and in practice).

B.   Human evolution, adaptation, variation in humankind:  race,
sex, physical characteristics.

C.   Subsistence Strategies and Cultural Development (FILM:  The Feast)

1.   Hunters and Gatherers (the way they were, the way they are today)
2.   Horticulture
3.   Pastoralism
4.   Agriculture

a.   Peasantry
b.   Family farms
c.   Agribusiness

5.   Industrialism, urbanization

D.   Anthropological Linguistics (origin of language, language and culture)

1.   Communication:  verbal, non-verbal
2.   Language vs. call-systems

E.   Personality in culture, socialization

F.   Kinship, Marriage, Families (The future of "the family")

G.   Mid-term exam

H.   Religion, Magic, rituals (the anthropological approach to religion
      FILM:  Trance and Dance in Bali

I.   Social Stratification:  class, caste, racism, sexism, ageism

J.   Political Systems:  Bands, tribes, chiefdoms, state governments, etc.

K.   Economic Anthropology:  reciprocity, redistribution, market exchange

L.   Culture change:  acculturation, assimilation, cultural survivals.
      FILM:  Sons of the Wind

M.   Reaction Paper due

N.   Applied Anthropology, an overview of Anthropologists at work
outside of the traditional academic setting

O.   Specific Contemporary Issues

1.   Government programs, congressional investigations,
"Pork Barrel"  projects
2.   Drugs in our cities and towns
3.   Race relations on and off campus
4.   Environmental concerns:  oil spills, deforestation, unchecked
      urbanization, etc.

P.   Cultures in Conflict in Today's World

1.   Latin America
2.   Middle East
3.   Ethnics after the U.S.S.R. break-up (Croats, Serbs, Muslims, etc)

Q.   Final Exam

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