ANTH 102: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Introduction

Welcome to ANTH 102, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.

Have you ever wondered why people in other countries have different ideas about clothing, styles of speech, rules of social interaction, childrearing, sports and games, even what constitutes a marriage and family?

All humans around the world belong to a culture that includes a set of beliefs, ideologies, customs, traditions, laws, and other behaviors that they follow as members of a society. We are social animals, and some of us feel that we are part of more than one culture. We find our place in society by a complex process of enculturation that begins at birth and continues for the rest of our lives. As humans, we are always learning, sharing, and integrating different aspects of culture with one another. Consequently, we all share the same ability to acquire culture with room for flexibility, diversity, and opportunity for disagreement. As a cultural anthropologist, I study everything about this fascinating human condition, including our past, present, and future. My work as an anthropologist is both comparative and cross-cultural, because I study information about people from different societies across time.

Anthropology is considered a science because it uses systematic logic, observations, and deduction to draw conclusions about human cultural and biological phenomena. At the same time, anthropology can be considered to be one of the humanities, since we are also interested in studying languages, philosophies, ideologies, music, and other forms of creative expression. Because the field of anthropology is so broad and holistic, we often engage in interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, cultural anthropologists often collaborate with sociologists, political scientists, economists, psychologists, and historians. Biological anthropologists sometimes collaborate with geneticists, biologists, and primatologists. Linguistic anthropologists might work with linguists, educators, or archivists, and so on.

In the United States, the field of anthropology is broken down into four distinct subfields: archaeological anthropology, biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and cultural anthropology. Archaeological anthropologists study the human past by reconstructing material remains such as pottery, architecture, art, and sculpture. Biological anthropologists are interested in the complex process of human evolution, including genetic variations and physical adaptability to a variety of ecosystems around the world. Linguistic anthropologists interpret the many ways in which speech and language vary across space and time. And finally, cultural anthropologists (like me) are particularly fascinated by social differences around the world.

We enjoy studying cultures to help explain the many ways in which some cultures share similarities, while at the same time, other cultures are very different. As humans, we often see variations among groups of people because we are the most adaptable species of animal in the world. While we can often use a biological means to adapt to a given environment (physiological changes), we also have the unique ability to use culture as a means of adaptation, exemplified by the development of domesticated food production and the spread of industrial production around the world. While empirical evidence has yet to be found for biologically based differences in intelligence between rich and poor, black and white, men and women, and so on, cultural traditions tend to promote certain activities and abilities while discouraging others. Culture also tends to reinforce standards of physical attractiveness, and shape our conceptualizations of health and well-being.

This course will help you to explore many misconceptions about members of other cultures, including biological bases for achievement and intelligence and racial differences among (and within) different societies. In Unit One, we will begin by learning how cultural anthropologists study firsthand different cultural settings around the world. We'll also look at what culture is (as well as what culture is not), and take a deeper look at why language is so important. In Unit Two, we'll examine the role of political systems and forms of exchange in cultural variation. In Unit Three, we'll understand how different people are grouped according to social status, including race, gender, class, and age. In Unit Four, we'll learn about how religion and ideology play an important role in the conceptualization of culture and our place in the world. We'll also explore some of the many manifestations of marriage and family across cultures. Finally, in Unit Five, we'll be learning about more contemporary manifestations of research in cultural anthropology, including the study of urban culture, applied anthropology, and understanding situations of world conflict. By the end of this course, you will most certainly have a greater appreciation for the wonderful variety of human life on Earth, and for everything that we call "human."

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Course Objectives

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• understand ethnocentrism and cultural relativity
• evaluate the role of cultural anthropology in the modern world
• identify and discuss key issues in modern cultural anthropology, including the study of race, gender, ethnicity, economics, political systems, and ideology
• determine the applications of cultural anthropology in organizations and the urban environment.

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Required Textbooks

I have assigned a variety of readings including an ethnographic case and an edited compilation of short scholarly articles on various aspects of cultural anthropology. You will be responsible for the assigned readings and accompanying lecture notes for each lesson. If you would like a general introduction to cultural anthropology to supplement your readings, I would recommend Barbara D. Miller’s Cultural Anthropology.

The following required texts can be obtained from Friday Center Books and Gifts either by ordering online or by printing and mailing the book order form.

• Conformity and Conflict: Readings in Cultural Anthropology, 12th edition, edited by James Spradley and David McCurdy. Allyn and Bacon, 2008. (ISBN: 0-205-59328-3)
  
  Conformity and Conflict offers an in-depth look at anthropology as a powerful way to study human behavior and events. The articles cover a broad range of theoretical perspectives and demonstrate basic anthropological concepts. The twelfth edition retains the accessibility of the previous editions: a combination of professionalism and readability in selections; the view that anthropology provides perspective on experience; and a carefully integrated organization. The text presents balanced coverage of non-Western and Western cultures (including American) so readers can make their own cultural comparisons and see the relevance of anthropology to their lives.
  
  
• The Worlds of a Maasai Warrior, Tepilit Ole Saitoti. University of California Press, 1988. (ISBN: 0-520-06325-2)
  
  Saitoti here offers his life story: from his birth into a traditional Maasai society in Tanzania in 1949, through his youth, education in a mission school, and initiation as a warrior, to his career as a game park guide and ranger (subject of a National Geographic film, Man of the Serengeti); to his studies in Munich and Boston and at the University of Michigan (where he received an MS in natural resources), to his return home, to be received back ritually into his family. Although Maasai life has been much described, this personal view is particularly interesting.
  

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Assignments and Exams

The course is divided into twelve lessons, each of which contains the following:

• objectives
• reading assignment
• notes (equivalent of lecture notes)
• self-quiz (not graded)
• case study or question for the Discussion Forum
• additional readings (short bibliography of suggested readings)
• Web links (interspersed through material to help you explore the current topic in more detail)
• optional films (occasional list of relevant films to supplement section material), available from some rental agencies (Blockbuster, Netflix) and some available from inter-library loan or media centers.

Discussion Forums

You will have the opportunity to participate in online discussions of reading materials and address pertinent issues raised by the readings. Questions to stimulate your thinking are provided at the end of each lesson to help fuel these discussions. Each of you will be required to submit a response to the discussion topic no later than the beginning date of the next topic. Responses should be at least 100 words in length, and should address the question, including readings and lecture materials.

Discussions of the topics are encouraged throughout the semester, and you should check back often to view threads on previous topics. To receive a perfect score for course participation (55/55), plan to submit a thoughtful response to each and every discussion question, and also periodically engage in debate with your peers throughout the course.

Note: The discussion forums are designed for your use; they are provided so that you have the opportunity for open, mature, academic discussions about the current lecture topic. Human issues facing modern society are not always politically correct or popular, and I'm not interested in serving as a referee to sort out battles over opinions and beliefs. Stick to the logic of the argument at hand. Personal attacks directed against other students, accusations, or remarks that are irrelevant to the topic at hand are not acceptable in this forum, and should be brought to my attention immediately.

Media

Lists of films relevant to the topic will be included with each lesson; you should feel free to investigate and view these videos at your leisure. Viewing of these films is optional, but will enhance your understanding of the lesson material.

Exams

Your grade will be derived in part from the successful completion of two midterm exams and a final exam. Each midterm exam will consist of 45 multiple-choice and true/false questions that will require you to think critically and analytically about issues presented in course lessons. The final exam will be 55 questions.

For your convenience, tests will be made available from 8 am on the first day of the testing window through 8 pm on the final date of availability. However, once you have started the exam, you must complete it within the 75-minute time window allowed. You can't go back and finish the exam later once you begin, and you are not permitted to use books or notes to assist you in answering the questions.

Because you have been provided with self-tests, key terms, and lecture notes for every lesson topic, no additional study guides will be distributed prior to exams. Any grade "curves" will be determined at the end of the course at the discretion of the instructor. I don't do extra credit in this course, so please don't contact me regarding opportunities to improve your grade in this manner. The final exam is cumulative, but will focus on material on which you have not previously been tested.

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Evaluation and Grading

There will be no opportunities for extra credit in this course. Final grades will be based on the following system:

Grading Scale

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Honor Code

I have no tolerance for academic dishonesty in any form, and all work in this course falls under the University of North Carolina honor code. If you deliberately engage in academically dishonest activities while a member of this class, you will be reported to University administration for disciplinary action.

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Course Mechanics

Blackboard

Some of your class components (discussion forums, exams, and announcements) are accessed through a software package called Blackboard, and you will need to log in to Blackboard using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password.

There is a link to the Blackboard site in the gray navigation bar at the top of every page in this course. Click on that link, and then use your Onyen to log in to Blackboard. Click on the "ANTH 102" link, and you will see navigation buttons on the left side of the screen labeled Announcements, Discussion Forum, and so on.

If you experience problems accessing Blackboard, this is what you should do:  

• If you do not already have a UNC Onyen, go to the Onyen Web site and follow the instructions for creating an Onyen.
• If you have an Onyen but have forgotten it (or the password), go to the Onyen Web site.
• If you have your Onyen but can't log in to Blackboard, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can log in to Blackboard but can't find this course listed, contact Janice Durham at the Friday Center.
• If you can't locate an exam or discussion forum in Blackboard, contact the Instructional Designer.
• If you have other technical problems while using Blackboard, contact Blackboard Help (use the Help button in Blackboard, or call 919-962-HELP).

Library Services and E-reserves

Students enrolled in Carolina Courses Online have access to the UNC Library System. Visit Distance Education Library Services to access a wide array of online services and resources including e-reserves, online databases, online journals, online books, and live help with research and library access.

Most online resources require you to log in with your Onyen and password. If you have any trouble finding the resource that you need or logging in to a resource, you can contact the library through the contact information at Distance Education Library Services. You can chat live about your problem, or send an e-mail to request assistance.

Using E-mail

All communication from me will go to your UNC Onyen e-mail address (the one that appears when you post to the discussion forum). Off-campus users can access their UNC e-mail account using Webmail. You can have your Onyen e-mail forwarded to a different e-mail address by clicking “Forward email” on the Onyen Web site.

We strongly recommend that you use your UNC e-mail account for all e-mails regarding your course. Hotmail users should be aware that Hotmail will block messages sent from within Blackboard because Blackboard uses “blind carbon copy” to protect privacy. If you forward your mail to a commercial e-mail service provider (yahoo.com or msn.com, for example), messages from your instructor, Friday Center staff, or other students may be delayed because these service providers sometimes place temporary blocks on messages originating from universities.

You must include "ANTH 102 CCO" in the subject line of all of your e-mail communications. 

If you have a more pressing matter, you can reach me by phone at 919-672-3195. If you have sent me an e-mail, please allow 48 hours for a response from me before sending another e-mail.

Submitting Assignments

It is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to me via e-mail. If I don't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy, indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails, as there is no way to guarantee that any e-mail message will be delivered.

Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Some software automatically deletes messages one month after they have been sent; others only save messages if they are filed in folders; others save messages received but not those sent. You may need to send yourself a copy of your e-mailed assignment at the same time you send it to me, or you may need to print a copy of the e-mail message and any attachments to keep in your paper files. No matter how your system works, make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to me and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of the course.

Reminder: You must include "ANTH 102 CCO" in the subject line of all of your e-mail communications.

Other Questions

If you have questions regarding

• the content of the course and your progress, contact me. There is a link to my e-mail address at the top of every lesson page. Please include "ANTH 102 CCO" and your name in the subject line of your e-mail.
• problems with this Web site, including bad links, contact the Instructional Designer at the Friday Center
• enrollment, Onyen, credits, withdrawal, and so on, contact the Student Services staff at the Friday Center for Continuing Education (phone 919-962-1134 or 800-862-5669)

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Course Schedule

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Lesson 1

©University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Last modified: January 22, 2009
Send comments and questions to fridaycenter.unc.edu.