Topics in Anthropology (490-0-1)
Topic
History of Anthropological Theory: 20th Century Et
Instructors
Robert Launay
847/491-4841
1810 Hinman Ave., Room #205, EV Campus
Office Hours: By appointment
Robert Launay is Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University. He has conducted extensive field research among Muslim traders in Côte d'Ivoire in West Africa. He has published two books and numerous articles, particularly on the anthropology of Islamic societies. He is currently editing a volume on Islamic education in Africa.
Meeting Info
University Hall 118: Thurs 3:00PM - 5:50PM
Overview of class
"Anthropology in the twentieth century was characterized by an increasingly professionalized practice of ethnography that initially developed along different lines on both sides of the Atlantic. Following the lead of Franz Boas, American anthropology conceived of itself as the study of "culture", learned modes of thinking and feeling. In Britain, students of Malinowski saw the object of their research as "society", structured patterns of social interaction. In this seminar, we will focus on some of the ways in which these two traditions developed along separate tracks in the first half of the century before converging in the second half. We will also consider the contributions of scholars, notably women and minorities, who contributed substantially to the discipline in spite of their marginalization.
This class is a pilot version of the second part of a 2-quarter sequence on the history of anthropology. The first part covers the development of grand theory in the long nineteenth century. However, this class can be taken independently."
Registration Requirements
None
Learning Objectives
The class will focus on the relationship of theory to the collection and presentation of data in the form of ethnography. The strengths and limitations of different modes and styles of writing will constitute an additional focus. Students will be expected to demonstrate their familiarity with the material and their sensitivity to historical context in both discussion and writing.
Teaching Method
The first half of each session will be devoted to lecture on the background to the readings. The second half will consist of class discussion of the week's reading.
Evaluation Method
There will be three papers of approximately 7 pages each. Students may substitute a single research paper on a topic of their choosing, subject to the approval of the professor.
Class Materials (Required)
"Bronislaw Malinowski, Argonauts of the Western Pacific
Paul Radin, Crashing Thunder
Margaret Mead, Growing Up in New Guinea
Zora Neale Hurston, Of Mules and Men
E.E. Evans-Pritchard, The Nuer
Jack Goody, Production and Reproduction
Claude Levi-Strauss, The Raw and the Cooked
Clifford Geertz, Negara"
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Reserved for Graduate Students.