Cultures in a Global Society

Spring 2004

Dr. Phyllis Chock
Ms. Anna Zeng
T-Th 1:35 - 2:50 p.m.

Cultural anthropologists of the modern world want to understand what it is that connects rock stars with Indians of the Amazonian rainforests, Guatemalan weavers with tourist markets, a minor 19th-century French aristocrat with present-day steroids scandals in sports, international migrants with middle-class Americans.

          Today there are no more "primitive cultures." Our lives are all touched by media images and information, by consumer desires, international markets, and global ecology, by diverse and conflicting political aspirations, and by religious revivals and rewritten histories of the world's peoples. Anthropologists pose questions about unexpected links among such phenomena.

         Our questions and answers in this class will always have two parts.  First, we will be comparative.  Cultural anthropology uses the study of other cultures to gain a perspective on our own, so anthropologists look at relationships between cultures. What makes other lifeways different from ours illuminates what is contingent about  ours.  Second, our views of other cultures will be holistic, that is, we will look at connections between practices and beliefs within cultures, and not at isolated, odd customs.

         Finally, in posing and answering questions about cultures, we will acquire and use some of the concepts and methods of anthropological inquiry. We will then consider cultural differences in the United States -- how these differences are made and unmade, how some differences are made into inequalities, and how these inequalities are contested.

        For those who are majors in education, in nursing, or in architecture, we will examine social and cultural environments that surround schools and education; health, illness, and well-being; landscape and environment; and transnational lives, respectively. Our study will focus on:

COURSE TEXTS

Barnes, Virginia Lee and Janice Boddy. (1994) Aman: The Story of a Somali Girl.Vintage Press.

Chavez, Leo R. (1992) Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society. HBJ.

Schultz, Emily and Robert Lavenda. (2001) Cultural Anthropology, 5th ed. Mayfield Press.

Schultz and Lavenda. On-line Study Guide.  http://www.mayfieldpub.com/schul

-- For up-to-date information on human rights and humanitarian issues around the world, click on Catholic Relief Services.
-- For campus events, lectures, and courses on international social development, click on Committee on International Social Development.
-- For lots more links to Anthropology resources, click on AnthroTech virtual library.

Additional Text for Education Majors: (Choose one)

Kawagley, A. Oscar. (1995) A Yupiaq Worldview: A Pathway to Ecology and Spirit. Waveland Press.

Vigil, James Diego. (1997) Personas Mexicanas: Chicano High Schoolers in a Changing Los Angeles. Harcourt Brace.

Additional Text for Nursing Majors:

Fadiman, Anne. (1997)  The Spirit Catches and You Fall Down. Noonday Press.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The class reading assignments in the Schultz and Lavenda, Chavez, and Barnes and Boddy books are given below and are required reading for satisfactory work in the course. The Chavez and  the Barnes and Boddy books will be used for examples throughout the semester. Class members are expected to have prepared reading assignments for each class and to attend class; they are responsible in class and in exams for all this material whether or not it has been covered in lectures.  Class members are also responsible for all information that is announced in class, whether or not they attended the day an announcement was made.

Education majors also have reading assignments in the Kawagley or Vigil books that are starred (*) and color-coded below.  Read the assignments for the book you have chosen.

Nursing majors have reading assignments in the Fadiman book, double-starred (**) and color-coded below.

As well, lectures will cover material that is not in the textbooks; make-up work will only be available to those who have excused absences. You are also responsible for all material in class lectures and exercises, in maps, and in films and videos.

             Two midterm exams will be given during the semester, one before the middle of the semester and one after; then a two-hour final exam will be given during finals week. All exams include multiple choice, short answer, map, and essay questions. Essays must be well-written and show mastery of course concepts; essays will ask that you use concepts to think about examples from your own experience. The online Study Guide gives detailed examples of how to prepare assignments and to review for exams. There are also many sample exam questions.

           A short written assignment of 5 double-spaced, typed pages is due at the last class meeting, April 27. Topics will be based on visits to Smithsonian museums that will be assigned later in the semester. The "Written Assignment" page below lists the exhibits from which you may choose.  For your essay you are asked to view an exhibit and then to use a concept that you have learned this semester to think about the exhibit, react to it, criticize it, or relate it to something else you know. You are encouraged to visit the Writing Center to get critiques of all your written assignments and essays; call for an appointment.  All written assignments should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner.  No loose pages, folders, or plastic covers will be accepted.  There will be a penalty for late papers.

Topics for the written assignment for Education majors will be based on the Kawagley or Vigil books.  Education majors will work on projects for classroom use and  may assemble their projects in an appropriate fashion.

Topics for the written assignment for Nursing majors will be based on The Spirit Catches You..., Aman, or Shadowed Lives.

You must go to the course web page to print out your written assignment.   Click on your assignment button below.   For a world map, click here.

Written Assignment      Nursing Assignment           Education Assignment

            Final grades will be based on the two midterm exams (25% each), final exam (25%), and written assignment (25%).

My office is 3 Marist, telephone 319-5080, e-mail chock@cua.edu . My office hours are Tuesdays 11-1 and Wednesdays12-2; you may arrange another time with me if those hours aren't possible for you.

Course Topics and Reading Assignments

                 Cultures and Meanings

Tuesday, Jan 13 -   "The anthropological perspective"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 1.
*Kawagley, Ch. 1.

Thursday, Jan 15 - "Explaining nationalisms and ethnic conflict"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 2.
Read Aman, Foreword, Chs. 1, 2, pp. vii-19.

Holism in the Anthropological Perspective  

Tuesday, Jan 20 -  "Global politics of rain forest destruction" (T. Turner)
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 3.
Read Aman, Chs. 3, 4. 

Sources of Cultural Knowledge  

Thursday, Jan 22 - "Fieldwork as a source of cultural knowledge"
Read: Finish Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 3
Read Aman, Chs. 5, 6
*Kawagley, Ch. 2.

Tuesday, Jan 27 -   MOVIE: "Kazhaks of China" about a Chinese production brigade
Read Aman, Chs. 7, 8

                 The Explanation of Cultural Differences

Thursday, Jan 29 -  "Exploration and colonization in the shaping of today's cultures"
VIDEO: "Soul of India" (PBS video).  Go on-line for more information, maps, discussion groups, photos.  Click here on India.
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch 4.
Read Aman, pp. 290-94, 326-335.

                  Language and Culture

Tuesday, Feb 3 - "The structure of language and languages"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 5.
**Fadiman, Chs.1-2.

Thursday, Feb 5 - "How we make words have meanings"
Read Aman, Ch. 10
*Kawagley, Ch. 3.


                 Cognition, Socialization, and Enculturation

Tuesday, Feb 10 - "Learning culture, learning to perceive the world"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 6
Read Aman, Chs. 11-13, pp. 144-173.

Thursday, Feb 12 - FIRST EXAM

                 Play, Art, Myth, and Ritual

Tuesday, Feb 17 - MOVIE: "Seasons of the Navajo": Pastoralism and agriculture in post-industrial society, Matrilineal family organization, Girls' puberty rituals
Read Aman, Chs. 9-10, pp. 113-143.
*Kawagley, Ch. 4.
**Fadiman, Chs. 3,4 

Thursday, Feb 19 - "Sports or War? The invention of the modern Olympics games; the Seoul Olympics steroid scandals" (J. MacAloon)
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 7

FIRST EXAM GRADES GIVEN

Tuesday, Feb 24 - "Urban legends and cultural uncertainty"
Read Aman, Chs. 14-17, pp. 174-202...
For news about research on rumors concerning the procurement and use of human organs worldwide, click on OrgansWatch.  For more on urban legends, click on Snopes.com or Urbanlegends.com


            The Social Construction of Reality: How Beliefs Shape Behavior

Thursday, Feb 26 - "'Multiculturalism': Why Yup'ik children can't learn to 'walk in two worlds" (R. Henze & L. Vanett)
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 8
*Kawagley, Ch. 5 (Education majors: If you've chosen this book, be prepared to discuss it in class!)
**Fadiman, Chs. 5,6 

SPRING BREAK

Tuesday, Mar 9 - "When beliefs fail: Religious syncretism, revitalization movements"
Read Aman, Chs. 18-20, pp. 203-222.
*Vigil, Chs. 1 and 2.

        The Social Construction of Violence

Thursday, Mar 11  -  "Rebellion" MOVIE: "Geronimo and the Apache Uprising"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 9.
*Vigil, Ch. 3.
**Fadiman, Chs. 7,8

Tuesday, Mar 16 - "The political power of the imagination: The Madres de Plaza de Mayo and the 'Dirty War' in Argentina"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 9.

Thursday, Mar 18 - "Practices of war and peace"
VIDEO: "Cause for Murder" For more on President Vicente Fox's anti-corruption efforts, including news stories, interactive maps, videos, and discussions, click on Cause.
Read Aman, Chs. 21-23, pp. 223-258
Read Chavez, Introduction, Chs. 1-2.

        The Meaning of Progress

Tuesday, Mar 23 - "Getting a livelihood: Forms of production, distribution, and consumption"
VIDEO: "The Empty ATM" (PBS video).  For more information, photos, discussion groups, maps, click on Argentina.
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 10.
*Vigil, Chs. 3 and 4.


Thursday, Mar 15 - SECOND MIDTERM EXAM

            Patterns of Family Relations

Tuesday, Mar 30 - "The problem of cooperation: Varieties of kinship relations and what they do"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 11
Read Chavez, Chs. 5-6.
**Fadiman, Ch. 9-12

Thursday, Apr 1 - "Forms of 'family' and their stresses; marriage, brideservice, bridewealth, and dowry"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 12.
*Vigil, Ch. 5.

SECOND MIDTERM GRADES GIVEN

           The Social Construction of Equality and Inequality

Tuesday, Apr 6 - "Secular ideologies of inequality: How Americans learn to live inequality in high school"
In class: Quick & Dirty: "Judgment Day"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 14
*Vigil, Chs. 6 and 7.
**Fadiman, Chs. 13-15

           Polygyny and its Tensions

Tuesday, Apr  13 - "Women and men negotiating polygynous marriage"; MOVIE: "Asante Market Women"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 13
Aman, Chs. 24-27; Chavez, Chs. 3,4,7.

            Cultural Diversity in Today's World

Thursday, Apr 15 - "Globalization"
Special Movie: "The Whale Rider"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 15.
**Fadiman, Chs.16,17

Tuesday, Apr 20  -  "Transnational Lives" Pt. I.
Video: "Red White Blue November"
Read Schultz & Lavenda, Ch. 16
Chavez, Chs. 8-9
*Vigil, Chs. 6 and 7
Nurses: In class role-playing of cross-cultural communication based on the Fadiman book.  Print out a copy of the eight questions from your written assignment and bring them to class.  Your papers are due at the final exam.

Thursday, Apr 22   - "Transnational Lives, Pt. II: Why are there 'illegal aliens'?" Lecture and video "Uneasy Neighbors"
Finish reading the Chavez book.
*Vigil, Ch. 8.
**Fadiman Chs. 18,19

Tuesday, Apr 27 "Why we don't wear polyester any more: Consumer Tastes and Social Change" (J. Schneider); 
In class: Quick & Dirty: What we do wear and why 
Review for final exam
Written assignment due


FINAL EXAM - Tuesday, May 4, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

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I have read the syllabus carefully and noted the assignments and the tests.  I am responsible for turning in the work on the dates indicated.

Signed _____________________________________Date_______________________

(Rev. 12/10/03)