ANTH
101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Fall
2008
Instructor: Gerry Waite
Office: BB311Phone: 765-285-3279
E-mail gwaite@bsu.edu
I. Course Rationale:
ANTH 101 is a university Core Curriculum Social and Behavioral Sciences course which focuses on ways of understanding the variety of human behaviors in all times and places. If the future success of our students is shaped by their ability to function in a multicultural globalized environment, it is imperative that students be well versed in the range of human experiences they might encounter.
The course aims directly at the first three goals of the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of the Core Curriculum Program. At the core of the course is a survey of human behavior in various contexts; geographical, temporal and cultural. Further, the discipline base provides a means of analyzing social/cultural systems which reduces ethnocentric bias. The course treats current social, political and economic problems in a cross-cultural perspective. The student learns how to think about these problems both in a global context and in daily life (e.g. racial and ethnic bias). Anthropology is a synthetic discipline firmly founded on the holistic principle that understanding another society/culture requires a multivariate, multidiscipline, integrative approach. Indeed, understanding other viewpoints is its hallmark and utilizing knowledge and methods from other disciplines is its stock and trade.
Several of the general goals of the Core Curriculum Program are also central to the thrust of this course. The model of culture that is presented in this course focuses on learned behavior from a perspective of cultural relativism. In demonstrating the utility of this view for understanding other ways of living, students almost invariable respond with an increased sensitivity to the values of others. The anthropological perspective is reflexive -- applying the same analytic techniques to our own culture, our discipline and ourselves. In this way students are challenged to examine their own personal values.
The course also deals centrally with problem solving. Examining the variety of human experience reveals what the common problems of living are and, in addition, shows how humans have solved them in different times and places with particular attention to cultural heritage. It also deals directly with problems of the modern world (e.g. population growth, wealth inequalities, global interconnectedness, rapid change, cultural survival).
For many students, the study of other cultures is rather intriguing. When they learn that seemingly unusual behavior can make sense if examined in context, they are more prone to critically evaluate information they are exposed to in ordinary life (e.g. the media), to examine the cultural context of the communication and reveal underlying bias. Such success reinforces critical thinking skills and renders “academic” learning useful, thus contributing to an appreciation or desire for life long learning.
Studying the social nature of human behavior cross-culturally, particularly in the “classic” anthropological studies where interpersonal relations are the basis for survival, provides examples of working in concert to solve common problems of living.
The variety of human experiences that the students are exposed to in this course should lead them to reflect upon their own interests, talents and goals thus better enabling them to choose appropriate specialized learning environments.
Finally, the department requires that half of the student examination material be written to encourage the ability to communicate at an acceptable level.
Course objectives:To be able to demonstrate in writing the skills and
knowledge inherent in the following goals:
To demonstrate an understanding of culture as shared meaning.
To be able to identify key social, behavioral, and artifactual elements of the
social milieu that demarcate boundaries between systems of shared meaning.
Within the scope of this class and its 15 units, be able to construct user
friendly questions that help identify important differences and similarities in
cultural systems.
Texts: "Humanity:
An Introduction to Cultural Anthropology" James Peoples and
Garrick Bailey, 7th ed.
"New Pioneers in the Heartland: Hmong Life in Wisconsin"
Jo Ann Koltyk
The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to his White
Mother" James McBride
Grading and Evaluation: Two reaction papers will be turned in over
the course of the semester- one from "The Color of Water", and one
from "New Pioneers". The format for these papers
will be discussed in class.
100 points
Four in class exams to be given at the end of each 4 week period
covering readings and lecture to that point. The first three exams are worth 50
points each, the final exam is worth 100 points.
250 points
An alternative news source journal: You are required to read one outside
news source a week from the links at the end of the syllabus and maintain a
journal of your comments and reactions. Your journal for this is due one week
before the final and counts 50 points.
50 points
Attendance: You have an automatic 75 points for attendance at the first
of this semester. You may deduct from these points by skipping class at a rate
of 2 points per class meeting. (seating will be assigned)
75 points
Twenty five points will be given for in class assignments and riding the Muncie
Buses (transfers turned in as proof of ridership)
25 points
There are 500 points total so the grading will be 450-500 = A-with a point
break at each 50 points. 
Note: No Laptops, cell phones or other internet devices in class.
Schedule of classes and content:
Week of January 7: Welcome to Ball State and to Anthropology 101!!! This week is an introduction to Anthropology. Read chapter one in Humanity.
Week
of Jan 14: Culture and
Language. Chapters 2 & 3 in Humanity.
Week of Jan 21: Monday is a holiday. Chapter 5 of Humanity is your reading for the week. Your film is "Strange Beliefs" Check out "Evolutionism" and "Structural Functionalism"
Week of Jan 28: Anthropological fieldwork and methods. Chapter
6 in Humanity, Listen to this NPR site Anthropologists and
War (note you'll need Realplayer or windows media for this site) and
look at Go Noi.
Week of Feb 4: Your first test is Tuesday this week !
Adaptation, foraging and domestication. Chapter 6 in Humanity. Please
also read Chapters 1 & 2 from "New Pioneers", "Refugee
Resttlement and the Hmong", and "The Refugee Experience".
Week
of Feb 11: Economic
Anthropology. Read Chapter 7 in Humanity, and Chapter 4 and 5 in "New
Pioneers". Also please look at Vietnam2000.
Week of Feb 18: This
week is about the organization of political life. Please read Chapter12 in Humanity.
Eric
Schissler's presentation
Week
of Feb 25: You've got a test (Tuesday again)!!. But, look at the
bright side, you're half done with this course. We are going to start on
marriage-the REAL DEAL! Read Chapter 8 in Humanity, and the chapter
entitled "Family Life" in "New Pioneers" .
Week of Mar 3: We will finish marriage and then start kinship, the stuff
Anthropology is made of! Read chapter 9 in Humanity. Finish "Pioneers"
Chapter 6, 7 & 8
Week of Mar 10: SPRING BREAK!!! Travel safe be back on
Tuesday the 18th ready to work. .
Week of Mar 17: Check out the website Hmong, , we'll
discuss "New Pioneers" this week as well as finishing kinship.
Your reaction paper on "Pioneers" is due Friday of this week
Week of Mar 24: Gender, (aka sex, lies and videotape). More about the
cultural construction of who we are. chapter 11 in Humanity, look
at Reflections on Sinai
Bedouin women.
Week of Mar 31: Third test!! on Tuesday .
You're in the homestretch!! it's
all downhill from here! about we look at Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
starting on Wednesday of this week? I'm sure some of you are experienced in
this or at least try on test days. Chapter 14 in Humanity. Please start
reading The Color of Water this week..
Week of April 7: Finish Magic and Witchcraft and start race and
ethnicity. Read chapters 13 & 17 in Humanity. Also please
listen to Ireland,
a short NPR selection.
Week of April 14 Continuing on Race and Ethnicity,
we will discuss "The Color of Water" this week .Look at this
page Assaults
on Truth and Memory . Your second paper is due this week.
Week of April 21: Assignments TBA
Thursday May 1, 2008, 9:45AM. Final, be
there!! Good luck ! Good bye, bon voyage etc. Your news journal is due this
week.
Extra notes: Reaction Papers, formats are provided, Two papers are due NLT the deadlines in the syllabus. These are the last dates you can turn them in.
*If you need course adaptations
or accommodations
because of a disability, or you
have emergency
medical information to share
with
me, please see me as soon as
possible.
The RealDeal
Pick from these fine sites for your weekly journal assignments.
Some of my own favorites 
G's Goodnews site
Find out about Oreo cookies
here.
