Anthropology of Race (343-0-1)
Instructors
Jennifer Anne Lupu
Jennifer A. Lupu is a doctoral candidate in Anthropology at Northwestern University and a visiting scholar at the Hannah Arendt Center at Bard College. Her historical archaeology research has included studies of brothels, medicine use and access, and LGBTQ experiences in late-19th to early-20th century Washington, DC. She was previously a predoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, and her research has been funded by the Smithsonian, the Social Sciences Research Council, and the Sexualities Project at Northwestern.
Meeting Info
ANTHRO Sem Rm B07 - 1810 Hinmn: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
This course provides an introduction to discussions of race and ethnicity within anthropology. We will discuss racialization - the process by which people are assigned to categories of race and the associated stereotypes and traits tied to those categories. Because race is a social construct, anthropology is well-situated to examine how racial categories are created and made impactful through historical and social practice. Throughout the course, will examine racial categories, where they come from, how they vary across societies, and what they are used to signify or mean. With readings from the four main subfields of anthropology, students will learn about ideas and conceptualizations of race through biological, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological approaches. The course will begin by complicating and contradicting the idea that racial categories are in any way natural, scientific, or innate. We will examine the history of these categories and the process of creating and maintaining racial categories. While the course does examine racial categories across globally situated projects, we will focus especially on the United States context. The course will conclude with some models and discussions of anti-racist approaches within anthropology.
Registration Requirements
None
Learning Objectives
"- Be able to define key terms such as racialization, ideology, race, and ethnicity
- Understand how racial categories developed over time
- Engage with ideas from critical race theory
- Understand the basics of how the four subfields of anthropology address race and racism
- Learn about race-related topics including segregation, redlining, mass incarceration and healthcare disparities"
Teaching Method
Discussion based with some lectures and guest presentation
Class Materials (Required)
Race: Are We So Different - 2019 2nd Edition (by Goodwin, Moses, and Jones) ISBN: 1119472474
Class Materials (Suggested)
All other materials provided on Canvas
Class Notes
2nd edition of the textbook is strongly preferred. However, if you are unable to purchase it, the 1st edition of the text is also acceptable and is available through the Northwestern Library as an ebook.
Class Attributes
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
SDG Reduced Inequality