WMG02301 Basic Cultural Anthropology II

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program

Lecture Code WMG02301 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name Basic Cultural Anthropology II

Subject Name
（Katakana）　

Subject Name in
English Basic Cultural Anthropology II

Instructor SEKI KOKI

Instructor
(Katakana) セキ　コウキ

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

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2T) Fri5-8：IDEC 203

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

The class will be face-to-face as a rule. But online will be possible if there is unavoidable reason.

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

Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 11 : Cultural Anthropology

Eligible Students Master course students

Keywords anthropology, ethnography, self, agency, subject/subjectivity, practice, power, bio-power/politics, resistance, governmentality, ontological turn, multispecies ethnography, science and technology studies, infrastructure, care

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline      This course examines the basic approaches and theories of cultural anthropology, focusing on the theoretical dimension of the interaction between power and subjectivity. It explores how we, living in contemporary society, form ourselves under various workings of power, what kinds of subjects or forms of agency we become, and how practices, through which institutions and society may be transformed, become possible. These questions will be considered through a range of concrete cases from the contemporary world.
     Particular attention will be paid to major currents in cultural anthropology since the 1980s and their contemporary significance. Specifically, the course will address topics such as practice theory, theories of everyday resistance, governmentality and biopower, the ontological turn, Science and Technology Studies, infrastructure studies, multispecies ethnography in the age of the Anthropocene, and care in contemporary society.

Class Schedule lesson1: What is cultural anthropology? A concept of culture and its transformations in contemporary world.
lesson2: Updating the practice theory (reading and discussion)
lesson3: Possibility of everyday resistance in contemporary settings (lecture)
lesson4: Possibility of everyday resistance in contemporary settings (reading and discussion)
lesson5: Governmentality and bio-power (lecture)
lesson6: Governmentality and biopower (reading and discussion)
lesson7: Ontological turn and Science and Technology Studies (lecture)
lesson8: Ontological turn and Science and Technology Studies (reading and discussion)
lesson9: Anthropocene and multispecies ethnography (lecture)
lesson10: Anthropocene and multispecies ethnography (reading and discussion)
lesson11: Infrastructure and agency (lecture)
lesson12: Infrastructure and agency (reading and discussion)
lesson13: Care in contemporary society (lecture)
lesson14: Care in contemporary society (reading and discussion)
lesson15: integration

term paper at the end of the class

Text/Reference
Books,etc. text and reading materials will be instructed at the first meeting of the class.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Text, Handouts, Audio Materials, Microsoft Teams, moodle

(More Details) Power Point, and written handout will be distributed.

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Students are required to read the assigned materials after each class. Based on those readings, students are encouraged to actively participate in discussion during the class.

Requirements Middle to advanced-level English ability, including reading the academic text and engaging in logical debate, is required for all the participants. Students are recommended to enroll for the class of Basic Anthropology I offered in the 1st Term.

Grading Method The score will be made based on the evaluation of students attitude and active participation during the class, ability to complete the reading and writing assignment for each class, and term paper.

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	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program
Lecture Code	WMG02301	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	Basic Cultural Anthropology II
Subject Name （Katakana）
Subject Name in English	Basic Cultural Anthropology II
Instructor	SEKI KOKI
Instructor (Katakana)	セキ　コウキ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, First Semester, 2Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2T) Fri5-8：IDEC 203
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
The class will be face-to-face as a rule. But online will be possible if there is unavoidable reason.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	11 : Cultural Anthropology
Eligible Students	Master course students
Keywords	anthropology, ethnography, self, agency, subject/subjectivity, practice, power, bio-power/politics, resistance, governmentality, ontological turn, multispecies ethnography, science and technology studies, infrastructure, care
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	This course examines the basic approaches and theories of cultural anthropology, focusing on the theoretical dimension of the interaction between power and subjectivity. It explores how we, living in contemporary society, form ourselves under various workings of power, what kinds of subjects or forms of agency we become, and how practices, through which institutions and society may be transformed, become possible. These questions will be considered through a range of concrete cases from the contemporary world. Particular attention will be paid to major currents in cultural anthropology since the 1980s and their contemporary significance. Specifically, the course will address topics such as practice theory, theories of everyday resistance, governmentality and biopower, the ontological turn, Science and Technology Studies, infrastructure studies, multispecies ethnography in the age of the Anthropocene, and care in contemporary society.
Class Schedule	lesson1: What is cultural anthropology? A concept of culture and its transformations in contemporary world. lesson2: Updating the practice theory (reading and discussion) lesson3: Possibility of everyday resistance in contemporary settings (lecture) lesson4: Possibility of everyday resistance in contemporary settings (reading and discussion) lesson5: Governmentality and bio-power (lecture) lesson6: Governmentality and biopower (reading and discussion) lesson7: Ontological turn and Science and Technology Studies (lecture) lesson8: Ontological turn and Science and Technology Studies (reading and discussion) lesson9: Anthropocene and multispecies ethnography (lecture) lesson10: Anthropocene and multispecies ethnography (reading and discussion) lesson11: Infrastructure and agency (lecture) lesson12: Infrastructure and agency (reading and discussion) lesson13: Care in contemporary society (lecture) lesson14: Care in contemporary society (reading and discussion) lesson15: integration term paper at the end of the class
Text/Reference Books,etc.	text and reading materials will be instructed at the first meeting of the class.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Audio Materials, Microsoft Teams, moodle
(More Details)	Power Point, and written handout will be distributed.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Students are required to read the assigned materials after each class. Based on those readings, students are encouraged to actively participate in discussion during the class.
Requirements	Middle to advanced-level English ability, including reading the academic text and engaging in logical debate, is required for all the participants. Students are recommended to enroll for the class of Basic Anthropology I offered in the 1st Term.
Grading Method	The score will be made based on the evaluation of students attitude and active participation during the class, ability to complete the reading and writing assignment for each class, and term paper.
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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