65033001 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 65033001 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Subject Name
（Katakana）

Subject Name in
English Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Instructor To be announced.

Instructor
(Katakana) タントウキョウインミテイ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  Second Semester,  3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Weds1-4：IAS K202

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) 　

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 　 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 11 : Cultural Anthropology

Eligible Students undergraduate students

Keywords cultural anthropology, diversity, nature/culture, multi-species ethnography

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Anthropology / Geography / History
Expected Outcome Expected Outcome
- Evaluate theory critically, acknowledging both its utility and limitations, while understanding the socio-historical contexts of anthropological theories.
- Apply critical theory to comprehend core debates within cultural anthropology.
- Examine the relationship between anthropological theory and its practical application in contemporary ethnographic writing.
- Gain an understanding of links between theoretical dialogues and ongoing discussions beyond the field of anthropology.
- Offer thoughtful reflections and critiques of topics discussed in class, as well as of your classmates’ analyses.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline This coursework introduces the fundamental concepts, theories, and methodologies of cultural anthropology. Its primary goal is to comprehend the influential ideas and concerns within the field.
The course draws on classical anthropological theories along with historical and sociological theories of contemporary times. Students are expected to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the diversity present in cultural phenomena. Additionally, they should be able to articulate the interconnectedness of the contemporary world and recognize how it undergoes transformation due to factors such as globalization, climate crises, and power dynamics.

The structure of class sessions combines both lectures and student-led discussions. Each week focuses on a significant theme in cultural anthropology, exploring it through various readings and/or online resources. Each class begins with a lecture where I provide context and elucidate the significance of the relevant theory, concept, person, or other pertinent content. Given the duration of our meetings and the small class size, student-led discussions heavily reliant on active participation will be pivotal in our sessions.

Class Schedule lesson1 Introduction to the Course
What is cultural anthropology? What constitute the fundamental philosophical orientations in cultural anthropology? What are the main strands of intellectual thought in the history of anthropology?

lesson2 Kinship
Sahlins, Marshall. 2013. “What Kinship Is – Culture” In What Kinship Is – And Is Not, 1-61. University
of Chicago Press.
Whyte, Kyle. 2021. “Time as Kinship.” In The Cambridge Companion to Environmental Humanities, edited
by Cohen Jeffrey, Foote Stephanie, 39–55. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

lesson3 Exchange of Values
Mauss, Marcel. 1967 [1925]. “Prestation, Gift and Potlatch; Distribution of the System.” In The Gift:
Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies, 1-46. New York: Norton.
Graeber, David. 2012. Chapter 5: “A Brief Treatise on the Moral Grounds of Economic Relations,”
In Debt: The First 5000 Years, 89-126. Brooklyn: Melville House.

lesson4 Rituals and Symbols
Geertz, Clifford. 1972. “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight.” Daedalus 101 (1): 1–37.
Turner, Victor. 1967. Symbols in Ndembu ritual. In The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual, 19-
47. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

lesson5 Writing ‘Others’
Said, Edward. 1978. “Chapter 1: The scope of orientalism (section I).” In Orientalism, 31-49. New
York: Vintage Books.
Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. 2003. Anthropology and the Savage Slot: The Poetics and Politics of
Otherness. In Global Transformations, 7-28. Palgrave Macmillan, New York.
Abu-Lughod, Lila. 2008. “Writing against culture.” The Cultural Geography Reader. Routledge, 62-71.

lesson6 Commodity Pathways
Appadurai, Arjun. 1986. “Introduction: Commodities and the Politics of Value” In The Social Life of
Things, 3-63. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tsing, Anna. 2013. “Sorting out commodities: How capitalist value is made through gifts.” HAU:
Journal of Ethnographic Theory 3 (1): 21-43.

lesson7 Naturecultures
Descola, Philippe. 1996. “Constructing Nature.” In Nature and Society: Anthropological Perspectives,
edited by Philippe Descola and Gísli Pálsson, 82-102. London: Routledge.

lesson8 Multispecies Ethnography
Kirksey, S. Eben & Stefan Helmreich. 2010. “The Emergence of Multispecies Ethnography”, Cultural Anthropology 25 (4): 545-576.
Collard, Rosemary-Claire. 2018. “Disaster Capitalism and the Quick, Quick, Slow Unravelling of
Animal Life.” Antipode 50: 910-928.

lesson9
lesson10
lesson11
lesson12
lesson13
lesson14
lesson15

Text/Reference
Books,etc. to be announced during the 1st session

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. 　

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated 　

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Student Responsibilities
1. Come to class on time, prepared to engage the readings carefully and collegially.

2. Turn in assignments when they are due. You are responsible for all materials and announcements presented in class, whether or not you were there.

3. 7 short reading responses papers (400 words, 2 double-spaced pages)
Ensure that these are placed in the designated folder on Moodle by 6 pm on the evening preceding our class. Your responses should showcase a thorough understanding of the assigned texts but avoid treating them merely as summaries. Instead, use this opportunity to initiate the formulation of meaningful questions about the readings and connect them to our ongoing discussions.

4. One 15-minute presentation that poses inquiries related to the readings assigned for your designated week. When attending our first class, indicate your top preference for the week you wish to present.

5. One 5-minute response to a classmates' presentation. During your response, you should critically analyze or evaluate the points raised by your classmate. Ensure coordination with your classmate to receive their presentation text promptly, allowing ample time for preparation.

6. 45-minute class discussion.

Requirements

Grading Method Course Evaluation
Response papers:                  50%
Attendance and Participation:          30%
Presentation & response:        20%

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2024Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	65033001	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Instructor	To be announced.
Instructor (Katakana)	タントウキョウインミテイ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Weds1-4：IAS K202
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	11 : Cultural Anthropology
Eligible Students	undergraduate students
Keywords	cultural anthropology, diversity, nature/culture, multi-species ethnography
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Anthropology / Geography / History
Expected Outcome	Expected Outcome - Evaluate theory critically, acknowledging both its utility and limitations, while understanding the socio-historical contexts of anthropological theories. - Apply critical theory to comprehend core debates within cultural anthropology. - Examine the relationship between anthropological theory and its practical application in contemporary ethnographic writing. - Gain an understanding of links between theoretical dialogues and ongoing discussions beyond the field of anthropology. - Offer thoughtful reflections and critiques of topics discussed in class, as well as of your classmates’ analyses.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This coursework introduces the fundamental concepts, theories, and methodologies of cultural anthropology. Its primary goal is to comprehend the influential ideas and concerns within the field. The course draws on classical anthropological theories along with historical and sociological theories of contemporary times. Students are expected to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the diversity present in cultural phenomena. Additionally, they should be able to articulate the interconnectedness of the contemporary world and recognize how it undergoes transformation due to factors such as globalization, climate crises, and power dynamics. The structure of class sessions combines both lectures and student-led discussions. Each week focuses on a significant theme in cultural anthropology, exploring it through various readings and/or online resources. Each class begins with a lecture where I provide context and elucidate the significance of the relevant theory, concept, person, or other pertinent content. Given the duration of our meetings and the small class size, student-led discussions heavily reliant on active participation will be pivotal in our sessions.
Class Schedule	lesson1 Introduction to the Course What is cultural anthropology? What constitute the fundamental philosophical orientations in cultural anthropology? What are the main strands of intellectual thought in the history of anthropology? lesson2 Kinship Sahlins, Marshall. 2013. “What Kinship Is – Culture” In What Kinship Is – And Is Not, 1-61. University of Chicago Press. Whyte, Kyle. 2021. “Time as Kinship.” In The Cambridge Companion to Environmental Humanities, edited by Cohen Jeffrey, Foote Stephanie, 39–55. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. lesson3 Exchange of Values Mauss, Marcel. 1967 [1925]. “Prestation, Gift and Potlatch; Distribution of the System.” In The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies, 1-46. New York: Norton. Graeber, David. 2012. Chapter 5: “A Brief Treatise on the Moral Grounds of Economic Relations,” In Debt: The First 5000 Years, 89-126. Brooklyn: Melville House. lesson4 Rituals and Symbols Geertz, Clifford. 1972. “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight.” Daedalus 101 (1): 1–37. Turner, Victor. 1967. Symbols in Ndembu ritual. In The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual, 19- 47. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. lesson5 Writing ‘Others’ Said, Edward. 1978. “Chapter 1: The scope of orientalism (section I).” In Orientalism, 31-49. New York: Vintage Books. Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. 2003. Anthropology and the Savage Slot: The Poetics and Politics of Otherness. In Global Transformations, 7-28. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Abu-Lughod, Lila. 2008. “Writing against culture.” The Cultural Geography Reader. Routledge, 62-71. lesson6 Commodity Pathways Appadurai, Arjun. 1986. “Introduction: Commodities and the Politics of Value” In The Social Life of Things, 3-63. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tsing, Anna. 2013. “Sorting out commodities: How capitalist value is made through gifts.” HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 3 (1): 21-43. lesson7 Naturecultures Descola, Philippe. 1996. “Constructing Nature.” In Nature and Society: Anthropological Perspectives, edited by Philippe Descola and Gísli Pálsson, 82-102. London: Routledge. lesson8 Multispecies Ethnography Kirksey, S. Eben & Stefan Helmreich. 2010. “The Emergence of Multispecies Ethnography”, Cultural Anthropology 25 (4): 545-576. Collard, Rosemary-Claire. 2018. “Disaster Capitalism and the Quick, Quick, Slow Unravelling of Animal Life.” Antipode 50: 910-928. lesson9 lesson10 lesson11 lesson12 lesson13 lesson14 lesson15
Text/Reference Books,etc.	to be announced during the 1st session
PC or AV used in Class,etc.
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Student Responsibilities 1. Come to class on time, prepared to engage the readings carefully and collegially. 2. Turn in assignments when they are due. You are responsible for all materials and announcements presented in class, whether or not you were there. 3. 7 short reading responses papers (400 words, 2 double-spaced pages) Ensure that these are placed in the designated folder on Moodle by 6 pm on the evening preceding our class. Your responses should showcase a thorough understanding of the assigned texts but avoid treating them merely as summaries. Instead, use this opportunity to initiate the formulation of meaningful questions about the readings and connect them to our ongoing discussions. 4. One 15-minute presentation that poses inquiries related to the readings assigned for your designated week. When attending our first class, indicate your top preference for the week you wish to present. 5. One 5-minute response to a classmates' presentation. During your response, you should critically analyze or evaluate the points raised by your classmate. Ensure coordination with your classmate to receive their presentation text promptly, allowing ample time for preparation. 6. 45-minute class discussion.
Requirements
Grading Method	Course Evaluation Response papers: 50% Attendance and Participation: 30% Presentation & response: 20%
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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