IntroductiontoCulturalAnthropology(01.070.101.

0112,Fall2015)
LectureMonandWed2:153:35PM,Loree022,andSectionaccordingtoschedule
Instructor:
ProfessorDanielGoldstein
Office:
303RuthAdams,DouglassCampus
Telephone: 8489324102
Email:
dgoldstein@anthropology.rutgers.edu
OfficeHours: Wed.1:002:00;orbyappt.

TAs: TomConte thomasconte@gmail.com

NadaElKounynadaelkouny@gmail.com

SenemKaptanskaptan@rutgers.edu
KartikeyaSabooksaboo@rci.rutgers.edu

TAtelephone:messagesatmainoffice:8489329886

CourseDescription
Thiscourseisanintroductiontothedisciplineofculturalanthropology,surveyingmany
oftheimportantareasofhumansocietyandculturethatanthropologistsstudy.Thefirstpartofthecourseconsiders
thewaysinwhichanthropologistshavetriedtounderstandculturethroughanapplicationoftheanthropological
perspective,adistinctivewayoflookingattheworldthatmakesanthropologyauniquediscipline.Awarenessofthe
anthropologicalperspectivemeanschallengingourownassumptionsandculturalpreconceptionsaboutourselves,
otherpeoples,andtheworldaroundus.Wewillalsodiscusstechniquesandphilosophiesofethnographicdata
collection,andwhatthesetellusaboutthestudyofculture.Then,usingethnographiccasestudiesofculturesfrom
aroundtheworld,theclasswillexaminesomecriticalareasofanthropologicalknowledge,withaparticular
emphasisoncurrentissuesandproblemsfacinghumansocietiestoday.Throughoutthecourse,Iemphasizehow
anthropologysuniqueperspectiveandapproachtoresearcharetangibleskillsthatstudentscanputtoworkina
varietyofcareers,socialsituations,andcrossculturalencounters.
CourseObjectives
Myprincipalgoalinthiscourseisforstudentstodevelopanappreciationforand
understandingofculturaldifference,andtogainarelativisticviewofthemselvesandtheirowncultureasone
particularsystemamongmany.Astheworldbecomesincreasinglyglobalizedandtheboundariesbetweencultures
blur,allofuscanbenefitfromaperspectivethatseesnoonecultureorwayoflifeassuperiortoanother.By
examiningourownculturalpracticesandcomparingthemwiththoseofotherpeoples,wecancometounderstand
therolesofculture,power,andeconomicsinshapingthetakenforgrantedstructuresandmeaningsystemswithin
whichwelive.Thusanothergoalofthecourseistohelpstudentssharpentheircriticalfacultiesbydevelopingan
understandingofthevarietyoffactorsincludingculture,history,power,politics,andsocialinequalitythat
influenceandimpactpeopleslives.Anthropologyisuniquelycapableofshowingstudentsthecomplexityinherent
inallsociallife,andtheimpossibilityofreducingexplanationtosinglefactorcauses.

SASCORECURRICULUMLEARNINGGOALSMETBYTHISCOURSE
II:AreasofInquiry
B:SocialScienceandHistory
h)Understandthebases&developmentofhumanandsocietalendeavorsacrosstimeandplace.
i)Explainandbeabletoassesstherelationshipamongassumptions,method,evidence,arguments,and
theoryinsocialandhistoricalanalysis.
B2:SocialAnalysis
m)Understanddifferenttheoriesabouthumanculture,socialidentity,economicentities,political
systems,andotherformsofsocialorganization
CourseRequirements
Studentgradeswillbebasedon100pointsdividedasfollows:twoexams(30points
each),oneshortresearchpaper(15points),thebestthreeoutoffourpopquizzes(5pointseach,15pointstotal),and
Sectiongrades(10points).
Exams:Eachexamwillconsistofmultiplechoicequestionsandessaysthataddressmaterialcoveredinlectures,
Sectiondiscussions,films,andcoursereadings.Thefinalexamwillonlycovermaterialfromthelasthalfofthe
course,i.e.,itisnotacumulativeexam.ItwillbeheldonFridayDec.18at8:00AM.
Shortpaper:Onethreepagepaperwillbeassigned,duetheweekofMonday,Dec.7(duringyourSectionmeeting),
worth15points,or15%ofyourfinalgrade.Thegradingcriteriawillbespecifiedontheassignmentsheet.

Popquizzes:FourpopquizzeswillbegiveninLectureduringthecourseofthesemester;youmaydropyourlowest
quizgrade,sothatyourthreebestquizzescounttowardsyourcoursegrade.Nomakeupquizzeswillbegiven.
Sectiongrades:Yourattendance,participation,andworkinweeklysectionmeetingswillcountfor10%ofyour
grade.Someportionofthatgradewillincludeadditionalwrittenassignmentsgiventoyouinsection.
CourseRules

Aclassthislargerequiresrulestokeepthingsrunningsmoothly.Pleasereadandfollowthem!

Attendance:Youarerequiredtoattendallclassmeetings.Wecoveralotofmaterialinclass,allofitpotentially
appearingontheexams,somissinganyclasssessioncanbecostly.However,Idonotmonitorattendanceatlectures
anddonotneedtoreceivenoticesaboutyourexcusedabsences.AttendanceatrecitationSectionisrequiredand
attendancewillbetakenregularly.Youareallowedtwounexcusedabsencesduringthesemester;thereafter,each
unexcusedabsencefromSectionwillloweryourgradeby5points.However,youcannotfailclassonthebasisof
attendancealone.
Lateness:Pleasecometoclassontimeitisverydisruptivetoprofessorandclassmateswhenstudentsarrivelateto
class.StudentsarrivinglatetoLectureorSectionwillhavetowaitinthehalluntilsuchtimeastheinstructor
admitsthemtotheclassroom,usuallyabout15minutesafterthestartofclass.Donotopenthedoorifitisclosed.
TwolatearrivalstoSectioncountasoneunexcusedabsence,whichaftertwounexcusedabsenceswillcountas
minus5pointsagainstyourfinalgrade(seeAttendance,above).Studentsarrivingmorethan15minuteslatewill
notbeadmittedtoLectureorSection,whichwillcountasanunexcusedabsence.
Exams:Onexamdays,youarerequiredtobringyourstudentIDandapencil.Rulesaboutacademicintegritywillbe
strictlyenforced,andanyonefoundcheatingwillreceiveanFgradefortheexam.OnlyTWOMAKEUPTIMESwill
bescheduledfortheMidtermExam.Toqualifytotakeamakeupexamduringthesetimes,youmustcontactyourTA
orProf.Goldsteinwithin24hoursofmissingtheexam,andhavealetterfromyourDeanasproofofanexcused
absence(thosedefinedbyUniversityrules,suchasadocumentedmedicalproblem).IfyoumisstheMidtermwithan
approvedexcusedabsence,youmusttakethemakeupduringoneofthetwoscheduledmakeuptimesnoexceptions
willbemade.IfyoumisstheFinalExamwithanapprovedabsence,youwillreceiveaTemporarygradefortheclass
andwillhavetotakeadifferentversionoftheexamduringthefirstweekofclassesinJanuary,orattheconvenienceof
yourTAnoexceptionswillbemade.
PopQuizzes:Ifyouarelatetoclassandarriveafterthepopquizhasstarted,leaveclassbeforethequizisgiven,orare
absentfromclassonthedayapopquizisgiven,whateveryourexcuse,youwillnotbeabletotakeamakeup.
GradingScale:A=90andabove;B+=8789;B=8086;C+=7779;C=7076;D=6069;F=59andbelow.
GradeAppeals:Idonotdiscussgradeswithstudentsviaemail.Ifyouwanttoknowyourscoreonanexam,orhave
aquestionoracomplaintaboutyourgrade,pleasecomeseemeinofficehours.
ShortPaper:Youmustbringatyped,printedcopyofyourpapertoyourSectiononthedateitisduelatepaperswill
bepenalized.Ifyouhavetomissclassonthedaythepaperisdue,youmustputacopyinyourTAsmailbox(onthe3rd
flooroftheRuthAdamsBuilding)bytheendoftheclassyoumissed.Noemailattachmentswillbeaccepted.
Films:Ifyoumissaclasswhereafilmisshown,thefilmswillbeavailableonreserveforoneweekfromthedateofthe
classshowingattheMediaCenterinDouglassLibrary.Thetitleandcallnumberofeachvideoarelistedonthesyllabus.
Therewillbequestionsonallfilmsoneachexam.
Academic Integrity: All students must strictly adhere to the Rutgers Academic Integrity Policy, which identifies and
defines violations of cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, plagiarism, and denying others
access to information or material. Full definitions of each of these violations, as well as the consequences of
violating the Academic Integrity Policy, are available as part of the student handbook. For details see:
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers

Classroomexpectations:
Allcellphonesmustbeturnedoff
ComputersonlytobeusedforfollowinglecturePDF
Noplayinggamesorcards
Noreadingthenewspaperorothernoncoursematerial
Noheadphonesorlisteningtomusic
Noleavingclassinthemiddle;usethebathroombeforehand
No recording of lectures without permission
Show courtesy to instructors and other students
CourseWebsite:ThereisaSakaiwebsite(https://sakai.rutgers.edu)thataccompaniesthiscourse,fromwhichstudents
candownloadcoursematerials(syllabus,readings,lectureoutlines)andreceiveannouncements.Ifyouhavetrouble
accessingthesite,pleaseconsultyourTA.
CourseReadings:Therearethreesourcesforreadingsinthisclass,listedinthesyllabusasfollows:
CC McCurdy,DavidW.,DiannaShandy,andJamesSpradley,eds.2016.ConformityandConflict:Readingsin
CulturalAnthropology.NewYork:Longman.15thEDITIONthisistheonlyeditionthatcontainsallthe
assignedarticles.ThisbookisavailableforpurchaseattheRutgersUniversityBarnes&NobleBookstore.
WW Gershon,Ilana,editor.2015.AWorldofWork:ImaginedManualsforRealJobs.Ithaca:CornellU.Press.
SR SakaiReadings.TheseareavailablethroughthecourseSakaisiteunderResources.Thesereadingsare:
SR1:Lapp,FrancesMoore,andJ.Collins.WhyCantPeopleFeedThemselves?
SR2:Loewen,JamesW.TheTruthabouttheFirstThanksgiving.
SR3:Smedley,Audrey.RaceandtheConstructionofHumanIdentity.
SR4:diLeonardo,Micaela.TheFemaleWorldofCardsandHolidays.
SR5:Purdum,ElizabethD.,andJ.AnthonyParedes.RitualsofDeath.
SR6:Tierney,John.TipsfromthePotlatch,WhereGivingKnowsNoSlump.
SR7:Friend,Tad.ThePerfectGift.
SR8:Nietschmann,Bernard.WhentheTurtleCollapses,theWorldEnds.
SR9:TheEconomist.TheGreatExpulsion:AmericasDeportationMachine.
SR10:DeLen,Jason.BettertoBeHotthanCaught.
SR11:Vogt,Wendy.CrossingMexico.
SR12:Goldstein,DanielM.Names,Places,andPower.
SR13:Muehlmann,Shaylih.SpreadYourAssCheeks:AndOtherThingsthatShouldNotBeSaid...
SR14:Goldstein,DanielM.LayingtheBodyontheLine.
COURSESCHEDULE
PartI:BasicQuestions
W2Sep

IntroductiontotheCourse
Read:CC1Spradley;CC31Miner;WWIntroGershon

Tu8Sep(CDCD)

Whatisculture?Whatisculturalanthropology?
Read:CC4Gmelch;WW3JonesandMarquet

W9Sep

Whyarepeoplefromotherculturessoweird?
Read:CC5Bohannon;CC33GuneratneandBjork;CC34Shandy
Film:CannibalTours(22625)

M14Sep(RH)

DoIhaveculture?
Read:CC29Gmelch;CC30Dubisch;WW7Bigenho

W16Sep

Whyarewetalkingabouthistoryinananthroclass?
Read:SR1LappandCollins;SR2Loewen

M21Sep

Howdoanthropologistslearnaboutpeopleslives?
Read:CC2Lee;CC3Sterk;WW10BainsandWilkinson

W23Sep(YK)

Isracereal?
Read:CC22Fish;SR3Smedley
Film:HerskovitsattheHeartofBlackness(101525)

M28Sep

Dosex,gender,andsexualitydeterminewhoweare?
Read:CC20ShandyandMoe;SR4diLeonardo;WW13Levi

W30Sep

Thewaymyfamilyisorganizedisnormalandnatural,right?
Read:CC16ScheperHughes;CC18Goldstein;WW14Wulff
Film:DaughterfromDanang(10356)

M5Oct

Iskinshipstillrelevantinthemodernworld?
Read:CC17McCurdy;CC19Fioratta;WW5SullivanandSwift

W7Oct

Whatroledoritualsplayinorganizingourlives?
Read:CC28Mueller;SR5PurdumandParedes

M12Oct

Howdoeslanguageshapethewaywethinkaboutandactintheworld?
Read:CC6Boxer;CC7Tannen;WW8Graber

W14Oct

Thatsallgreat,butcanIgetajobdoingthis?
Read:CC36Alverson;CC39McCurdy
Specialpresentation:Dr.AndrewBrown,ToposPartnership

M19Oct

MidtermExam;nosectionmeetingsthisweek

PartII:IssuesandConcerns
W21Oct

Thenaturalenvironmentandclimatechange
Read:CC8Lee;CC9Williamson;CC10Crate
Specialpresentation:Mr.TomConte

M26Oct

Noncapitalisteconomies
Read:CC11Reed;WW2LienandLaw

W28Oct

Giftsandreciprocity
Read:CC12Cronk;SR6Tierney;SR7Friend
Film:OngkasBigMoka(327)

M2Nov

Capitalismanditsdiscontents
Read:CC27Nordstrom;SR8Nietschmann;WW12Kembleetal.

W4Nov

Inequality
Read:CC13Bourgois;CC14Rolston;WW9Lane
Specialpresentation:Mr.KartikeyaSaboo

M9Nov

Globalization
Read:CC21RogozenSoltar;CC32Bestor;WW11LynchandChamberlain

W11Nov

Politicsandthestate
Read:CC15Patten;CC26Eames
Specialpresentation:Ms.NadaElKouny

M16Nov

Transnationalmigration

Read:CC35EhrenreichandHochcshild;SR9TheEconomist;WW6Kruse
W18Nov

Borderviolence
Read:SR10DeLen;SR11Vogt
Film:The800MileWall(105369)

M23Nov

Comparativelegalsystems
Read:CC24Sutherland;CC25SpradleyandMcCurdy;WW4Demian
Specialpresentation:Ms.SenemKaptan

W25Nov

noclass(CDCD)

M30Nov

Citiesandurbanlife
Read:SR12Goldstein

W2Dec

Indigenouspeoplesinthemodernworld
Read:SR13Muehlmann
Film:StandingonSacredGround:ProfitandLoss(105007v.2)

M7Dec

Problemsofglobalhealth
Read:CC37Patten;WW1WendlandandBandawe

W9Dec

Howtochangetheworld
Read:CC38Stryker;SR14Goldstein

FDec18@8:00AM

FinalExam