65033001 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year 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 YOSHIDA MARIKO

Instructor
(Katakana) ヨシダ　マリコ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  First Semester,  2Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2T) Mon5-8：IAS K207

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 11 : Cultural Anthropology

Eligible Students

Keywords cultural anthropology, reciprocity, kinship, nature/culture, multispecies 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 [Course Description]
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 Lesson 1
June 9  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?

Lesson 2
June 16     Kinship
Kinship is a foundational concept in anthropology, shaping how societies define relationships, inheritance, and social obligations. While traditionally understood through biological ties and descent, anthropologists have expanded the concept to include social, legal, and even multispecies connections. This week, we will explore key theories and ethnographic cases, from classic lineage studies to contemporary discussions on chosen families, queer kinships, and assisted reproductive technologies.

Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Kinship.” In What is Anthropology?, 98-116. London: Pluto Press.
Sahlins, Marshall. 2013. “What Kinship Is – Culture” In What Kinship Is – And Is Not, 1-61. Chicago: 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.

Lesson 3
June 23     Reciprocity
Reciprocity is a fundamental principle in socioeconomic life, shaping relationships through the exchange of gifts and obligations. We will examine classic and contemporary perspectives on reciprocity. Through these readings, we will discuss how reciprocity extends beyond material transactions, shaping power, and social cohesion across different cultural contexts.

Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Reciprocity.” In What is Anthropology?, 84-97. London: Pluto Press.
Mauss, Marcel. 2001 [1925]. “Introduction” and “The Exchange of Gifts and the Obligation to Reciprocate (Polynesia)” In The Gift: The form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies (2nd ed.), 1-24. London and New York: Routledge.
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.

Lesson 4
June 30     Rituals and Symbols
Geertz, Clifford. 1972. “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight.” Daedalus 134 (4): 56–86.
Turner, Victor. 1967. Symbols in Ndembu ritual. In The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual, 19-47. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Lesson 5
July 7     Writing ‘Others’
How we write about others shapes not only our understanding of the world but also the power dynamics embedded in knowledge production. This week, we will critically examine the politics of representation in anthropology and beyond. Through these readings, we will discuss how scholars navigate the ethics of representing others and consider alternative approaches to writing about difference.
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.

Lesson 6
July 14     Commodity Pathways
Commodities are more than just objects of exchange—they have social lives, shifting in meaning and value as they move through different contexts. This week, we will explore how commodities travel along complex pathways, shaped by cultural, economic, and political forces. Through these readings, we will consider how commodities are transformed as they circulate and the broader implications of these processes.

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.

Lesson 7
July 18     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.
Nading, Alex M. 2013. Humans, animals, and health: From ecology to entanglement. Environment and Society: Advances in Research 4.1: 60–78.

Lesson 8
This week, we will explore “an anthropology of life” to extend ethnography beyond the human. Challenging the constraints of conventional frameworks that separate the uniquely human from the commonly animal, the readings advocate for an embodied approach to semiosis—one that recognizes sign processes as fundamental to all forms of life.

Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Nature.” In What is Anthropology?, 117-135. London: Pluto Press.
Descola, Philippe. 1996. “Constructing Nature.” In Nature and Society: Anthropological Perspectives,
edited by Philippe Descola and Gísli Pálsson, 82-102. London: Routledge.
Kohn, Eduardo. 2007. How dogs dream: Amazonian natures and the politics of transspecies engagement. American Ethnologist 34.1: 3–24.

[Names and Pronouns]
Students are expected to refer to their classmates by their stated names and pronouns. If you go by a different name or gender pronoun than the one that appears on the official course roster, please let me know.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. To be announced during the first session.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Paired Reading

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 (approx. 450-500 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 20-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. 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	2025Year	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	YOSHIDA MARIKO
Instructor (Katakana)	ヨシダ　マリコ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 2Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2T) Mon5-8：IAS K207
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	11 : Cultural Anthropology
Eligible Students
Keywords	cultural anthropology, reciprocity, kinship, nature/culture, multispecies 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	[Course Description] 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	Lesson 1 June 9 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? Lesson 2 June 16 Kinship Kinship is a foundational concept in anthropology, shaping how societies define relationships, inheritance, and social obligations. While traditionally understood through biological ties and descent, anthropologists have expanded the concept to include social, legal, and even multispecies connections. This week, we will explore key theories and ethnographic cases, from classic lineage studies to contemporary discussions on chosen families, queer kinships, and assisted reproductive technologies. Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Kinship.” In What is Anthropology?, 98-116. London: Pluto Press. Sahlins, Marshall. 2013. “What Kinship Is – Culture” In What Kinship Is – And Is Not, 1-61. Chicago: 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. Lesson 3 June 23 Reciprocity Reciprocity is a fundamental principle in socioeconomic life, shaping relationships through the exchange of gifts and obligations. We will examine classic and contemporary perspectives on reciprocity. Through these readings, we will discuss how reciprocity extends beyond material transactions, shaping power, and social cohesion across different cultural contexts. Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Reciprocity.” In What is Anthropology?, 84-97. London: Pluto Press. Mauss, Marcel. 2001 [1925]. “Introduction” and “The Exchange of Gifts and the Obligation to Reciprocate (Polynesia)” In The Gift: The form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies (2nd ed.), 1-24. London and New York: Routledge. 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. Lesson 4 June 30 Rituals and Symbols Geertz, Clifford. 1972. “Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese Cockfight.” Daedalus 134 (4): 56–86. Turner, Victor. 1967. Symbols in Ndembu ritual. In The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual, 19-47. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Lesson 5 July 7 Writing ‘Others’ How we write about others shapes not only our understanding of the world but also the power dynamics embedded in knowledge production. This week, we will critically examine the politics of representation in anthropology and beyond. Through these readings, we will discuss how scholars navigate the ethics of representing others and consider alternative approaches to writing about difference. 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. Lesson 6 July 14 Commodity Pathways Commodities are more than just objects of exchange—they have social lives, shifting in meaning and value as they move through different contexts. This week, we will explore how commodities travel along complex pathways, shaped by cultural, economic, and political forces. Through these readings, we will consider how commodities are transformed as they circulate and the broader implications of these processes. 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. Lesson 7 July 18 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. Nading, Alex M. 2013. Humans, animals, and health: From ecology to entanglement. Environment and Society: Advances in Research 4.1: 60–78. Lesson 8 This week, we will explore “an anthropology of life” to extend ethnography beyond the human. Challenging the constraints of conventional frameworks that separate the uniquely human from the commonly animal, the readings advocate for an embodied approach to semiosis—one that recognizes sign processes as fundamental to all forms of life. Eriksen, Thomas Hylland. 2004. “Nature.” In What is Anthropology?, 117-135. London: Pluto Press. Descola, Philippe. 1996. “Constructing Nature.” In Nature and Society: Anthropological Perspectives, edited by Philippe Descola and Gísli Pálsson, 82-102. London: Routledge. Kohn, Eduardo. 2007. How dogs dream: Amazonian natures and the politics of transspecies engagement. American Ethnologist 34.1: 3–24. [Names and Pronouns] Students are expected to refer to their classmates by their stated names and pronouns. If you go by a different name or gender pronoun than the one that appears on the official course roster, please let me know.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	To be announced during the first session.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Audio Materials, Visual Materials
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Paired Reading
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 (approx. 450-500 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 20-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. 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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