Culture & Society (211-0-1)
Instructors
Kyle Benedict Craig
Meeting Info
ANTHRO Sem Rm 104 - 1810 Hinmn: Mon, Wed 10:00AM - 12:30PM
Overview of class
Most cultural anthropologists would agree that there is no one definition of the field, or limit to its inquiry. Instead, it is a way of observing and participating in the world around us that has come to characterize the field and cement its place in social sciences. In this course we will practice how to think, read, and conduct research like a cultural anthropologist, and in the process, come to see the world as they see it. We will focus on ethnography, the primary method of our field, as a tool for inquiry, and as a way to better understand key themes and trends in contemporary cultural anthropology. These themes include but are not limited to: culture and environment; rituals and belief systems; kinship and social organizations; structure and agency; colonialism and capitalism; and social change and resistance. The combination of readings, films, news and social media content allows students to develop a critical lens that links their everyday experiences and conversations to larger societal and global issues. It further equips them with the skills necessary to engage in and develop mini ethnographic research projects throughout the course. By the end of the course, students will have gained foundational understanding of anthropological inquiry into the complexities of cultural and society as well as a well-grounded critical perspective to challenge ethnocentrism, racism, classism, and heteronormativity.
Teaching Method
Seminar & Lecture
Evaluation Method
Participation, discussion posts, small ethnographic exercises, and final essay.
Class Materials (Required)
Cartographies of Youth Resistance: Hip-Hop, Punk, and Urban Autonomy in Mexico by Maurice Rafael Magaña ISBN: 9780520344624
Shapeshifters: Black Girls and the Choreography of Citizenship by Aimee Meredith Cox Paper ISBN: 978-0-8223-5931-9 / Cloth ISBN: 978-0-8223-5943-2
Class Attributes
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
SDG Peace & Justice
SDG Decent Work & Economic Growth