The Global Human Experience
Fall 2009

    Cultural Anthropology (ANTH 1102) (CRN 21399)   Mon/Wed - 10:00-11:15   Place: CD-1160
Professor: W. Ernie Guyton   Phone: 678-891-3367   Fax: 678-891-3084
Office: CB-2106    Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 10:00-12:30; 2:00-5:00
Textbook: Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge, Haviland, 12th Edition
E-Mail: william.guyton@gpc.edu    Website: http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~wguyton/homepage.html
Gil: http://gil.gpc.edu      AnthroPak: compiled assisting lecture materials to be handed out in class

Cultural Anthropology is the study of us humans as socially learned and interactive beings. Our ultimate aim is to understand the diversity of human experience and behavior in the widest possible geographic, historical, and social terms. To do that, we look at both the change which humans have undergone throughout history and prehistory, and the variety that is presently evident in the world. In this course you will encounter many societies you have not heard of before and many practices you find strange. We will put special emphasis on tribal and traditional peoples. In doing so the teachings and readings of this course will hopefully give you a new appreciation of your world neighbors, human heritage, and of yourself as a cultural participant within your own human group.

Semester Schedule

Week 1 - Introduction to Anthropology and its Subfields. What is Cultural Anthropology?

Cornerstones and goals of the discipline: Holistic perspective; Comparative Perspective;

and Cultural Relativism and the battle against Ethnocentrism. What the Social Sciences

mean by “Culture”. Cultural institutions and how they fit together (cultural integration).

Cultural evolution and history; World View; Cultural Humor; Culture shock!

Chaps 1 & 2 plus pp. 152,153 & 298; Anthropak

Week 2 - Durkheim's Solidarities: Mechanical & Organic; Ethnic Group, Society, and Subculture.

Ethnography & Ethnology - strategies in anthropology research. The ethics and

objectivity in Ethnography (fieldwork-Indiana Jones types). The Ethnologist – the

brainstorming armchair anthropologist (AnthroNerds). Chap. 3 (skip 54-56)

Week 3 - Ethnography of Spanish America (Slide Show of peoples and cultures of Highlands

Middle & South America). Anthropak

Exam #1 –Wednesday, September 16^th (pencil & scantron)

Week 4 - Language & Culture - Do individual languages reveal cultural information as well as

shaping the minds of their users? How do languages adapt to changing culture?

Chap. 5 & Anthropak

Week 5 - The Enculturation Process; Culture & Personality; Cross-Cultural perceptions;

Genetics & Behavior (Nature vs. Nurture debate); Dependence & Independence

Training. “Individualism & Collectivism”.

Part 2 - “Race” and human physical adaptation. Chap 6; Chap 4 (91-95)

Week 6 - Marriage, Family & Kinship – a cross-cultural perspective on family types, marriage

patterns, and different kinship systems. The function of family & kin folk.

Chaps. 9 ; 10 (skip 237-240; 244-246)

Exam #2 –Monday, October 12^th

Week 7 - The Origins of the Human Species - short-version overview of human evolution from

Australopithecines to Modern Homo Sapiens. Part 2 - "The Road to Becoming a

State-Level Society" - functions & dysfunctions. Chap. 4 (skip 71-78) & Anthropak

Article Questionnaire #1 – Monday, October 19^th

Week 8 - Economic Anthropology – Divisions of Labor; Forms of Reciprocity and Exchange;

Leveling Mechanisms; Redistribution. Chapter 8

Week 9 - Breaking down tribal groups by economics: Hunters & Gatherers, Pastoralists, and

Horticulturalists; Agriculture - the bread basket to most of the world!

Chap. 7 (158-174) & Anthropak

Week 10 - Political Anthropology - basic types and structures of political systems from Band to

State -level societies. The legitimacy of Power and Coercion (control) in different

societies. 3-Types of Rationalizations. Chap. 12 (skip 286-294) & Anthropak

Exam #3 - Monday, November 9^th

Week 11 - Social Stratification – cultural grouping and ranking by Ethnicity; Sex; Age; and

Common Interest, etc.. Social systems of equality and inequality. Class & Caste systems

and the means of justifying inequality.
Chap. 11 Activity Report due – Monday, November 16^th

Week 12 - Women as a global "minority". Part 2 - Ethnohistorical Anthropology: a brief look at the

effects of Colonialism and Neocolonialism-yesterday & today.

women 28,29,131,281,282; colonialism 351-356 & Anthropak

Week 13 Religion & Culture - cross-cultural interpretations of the Supernatural; diversity in

beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies; Tribal Religions: Taboos & Superstitions: sensible or

silly? Functions & Dysfunctions of Religion for humans. Chap 13

Article Questionnaire #2 - Monday, November 30 ^th

Week 14 - Global Issues: The Population Bomb and the Environment. Problems and solutions for

our finite resources. Part 2: Culture Change - the types (and terms) of culture change.

The dying of cultures and the birth or revitalization of Ethnicity. Increasing diffusion

and sometimes intrusion. Globalism vs. Separatism = Melting-Pot Strategy vs.

Multiculturalism. Tribal Groups living alongside Modern societies.

Chaps. 15 & 16 and Anthropak

Final Exam - Monday, December 7^th @ 10:00-12:00

Article Questionnaire Quiz #1 (read in the order numbered below)

Articles on Reserve in Library or On-line: 1) “Tribal Wisdom” 5) “Matter of Race”

3) “Man at the Mercy of Language”

Original Studies (in text): 2) “The Importance of Trobriand Women” (Ch. 3)
4) “The Blessed Curse” (Ch. 9)

Article Questionnaire Quiz #2 (read in the order numbered below)

Articles on Reserve in Library or On-line: 3) “The Dutch Treat Themselves with Respect”

5) “Why Can’t People Feed Themselves”

Original Studies (in text): 1) “Arranging Marriage in India” (ch. 9)

2) “Gardens of the Mekranoti Kayapo” (ch. 7)

4) “Healing Among the Ju/’hoansi of the Kalahari” (ch.13)

Course Requirements and Guidelines

1) Textbook readings from the assigned chapters in the syllabus. 2) Read the articles and supplemental handouts in the “AnthroPak” assigned by me in class. There will be 2 article questionnaires (quizzes) given on the assigned dates in the syllabus. 3) Exams: 4 Multiple Choice Exams will be given throughout the semester. No make-up exams allowed without serious doctor’s excuse or other documented events of a serious nature (ex. accident with injury, or death of close family member). Make-up exam will be given immediately following the student’s return to class. Exam dates are given in the syllabus and Study Guides will be provided for each exam. 4) Activity Report Choices: Choose only One - #1 - write a 2 to 3 page summary paper following a visit to the Michael Carlos Museum (Emory Univ.), by picking out only 2 geographic sections, or ancient cultures, from all the exhibits (of course, you’ll want to take some notes while at the museum; or #2 - Perform a mini-ethnography (basically an interview) by asking a set of questions (given to you on my webpage) to a person from a different culture/country than your own (Americans excluded). Write up the questions/answers, and your summary or response to the interview (what you learned, how you thought the interview went, etc.). Your extra questions will improve your grade; or, #3 - do a summary paper (2 to 3 pages) following a visit with the primates (gorillas, chimps, orangs) at the Atlanta Zoo, combined with reading the first 9 pages of chapter 4 in text as a basis of information on primate behavior. Your paper should include some of this reading. The due date for these assignments is in the syllabus. 5) Come to class - the quizzes and exams will primarily come from your class notes. Outlines for note taking will be provided each class. 6) Cheating will result in expulsion from the class, and possibly the college, and receiving the letter grade F for the course. 7) The instructor is not responsible for missed exams or assignments, however, inform me if you miss one. 8) Arriving to class late or leaving early without an excuse is sign of disrespect to professor and students; quizzes will be at the beginning of class; if you are more than 10 minutes late you are considered absent; please do not enter the classroom. 9) Poor attendance will almost surely hurt your grade in this lecture-based class. Good attendance will be rewarded. 10^th) Thou Shalt Study!

Syllabus Addendum: In the event that the college must close for an extended period of time due to the outbreak of a communicable widespread illness, students in this class must refer to our CoWeb site for instructions and assignments in order to keep the course on schedule and allow for the continuance of learning and testing. Students who do become ill from the outbreak associated with the college closing must notify the instructor within 24 hours of initial absence and should provide the instructor with an anticipated return date. To notify your instructor of your absence, please submit the GPC Illness Notification Form: http://www.gpc.edu/absence

Grading

                4 Exams x 75 points each.......................................300 points
                2 article questionnaires x 30 points each..................60 points
                1 Activity Report ....…........................................…40 points
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                Total .................................................................... 400 points

Good Attendance = +4,+3,+1 points

Grading Scale (10%) A=404-360; B=359-320; C=319-280; D=279-240; F=<239

"Indiana Guyton" or "Hippie Professor"

Statement of Non-Discrimination (pictures above prove that!): Georgia Perimeter College supports the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order #11246, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the college. Any individual with a grievance related to the enforcement of any of the above provisions should contact the Assistant Director of Human Resources.