ANTH 200: Cultural Anthropology

Dr. Adolfo (Ad) Muniz Office hours Monday 10-12 a.m. or by appointment Social and Behavioral Science Building - 2nd Floor - 2-223 The field of cultural anthropology focuses on how human beings create meaning and order in their lives and societies. It explores the diversity of human societies as well as the features that they share in common, challenging us to appreciate the different logics underlying human action and institutions while allowing us to see some of the aspects of cultural and social organization that are similar across cultures. Cultural anthropology asks what motivates people to behave as they do, how they organize and make sense of their environment, how certain people and institutions come to wield power over others, and how the politics of the nation-state and the demands of national and global economies affect people's lives at the local level. This course is not intended as a history of cultural anthropology. Rather, the objective is to introduce students to the concept of culture and some of the debates surrounding it, as well as to examine some of the topics that have been of special interest to cultural anthropologists. These topics include, among others: 1) how symbols are used in ritual and daily life to convey cultural meaning; 2) how people attempt to impose order on the natural and social environment; 3) what happens to cultural practices when they are dislocated from their original settings through migration or the mass media; 4) how globalization and industrialization affect local cultures; 5) how gender roles tie into other aspects of culture and social institutions; and 6) how the body and its treatment in different societies reflect the values and ideologies of those societies. These topics will be examined partly through short case studies that help to illuminate larger issues in anthropology. We will also be reading two book-length studies, or ethnographies, that explore a community or subculture in greater depth. We will also be screening films and video throughout the semester. Required Texts: Books for the course can be purchased at the CSUSM Bookstore or through an online provider (Amazon.com, Coursemart, etc.). The required books are: 1. Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to Cultural Anthropology by Conrad Phillip Kottak (Textbook and available as an ebook)-6th, 7th, or 8th edition however, please be aware your pages will vary. 2. Peyote Hunt: The Sacred Journey of the Huichol Indians (Symbol, Myth & Ritual) by Barbara G. Myerhoff (Paperback) (Amazon.com) 3. Consuming Grief: Compassionate Cannibalism in an Amazonian Society by Beth Conklin (Available at Bookstore or online) 4. Web articles on Cougar Course

Course Requirements: You are encouraged to attend and actively participate in class. Attendance at video screenings, which are an important component of the course, is also strongly recommended. Expect to see questions from screenings on tests or quizzes. You are expected to keep up with the readings each week. There will be two in-class midterms and a final examination. The in-class exams will cover lecture, assigned readings, and other forms of media that are screened in class. You will also be participating in two projects. As this is a cultural anthropology course we will be exploring human and cultural diversity. We will explore how and why humans organize themselves and why we think the way we do. One of your assignments will be to participate in an ethnographic project. You will be asked to explore topics we cover in class in a field setting. The second project is an identity project. You and your classmates will be asked to apply issues in diversity and identity and translate and materialize your findings into a tangible project. A prompt will be issued to assist you with both projects. Please note that you may be collaborating with fellow students. You will be expected to participate and contribute to the assignments. Grades-Grades for this class will be determined as follows. In-Class midterm #1 (20%), In-Class midterm #2 (20%), InClass Final (20%), Ethnographic Project (25%) and Identity Project (15%) Class participation/attendance -Attendance is mandatory and students will be required to sign-in. I will be monitoring your absences. If you miss class on a regular basis you grade will be affected or you may be dropped from the class. It also makes common sense, as you will be expected to know the material covered in class meetings and discussions, not just what is in the textbook. Please do not email me to let me know why you are not coming to class or why you missed class! Please see me during office hours if you are having conflicts. Again, If you do not submit your assignments over Cougar Courses by the due date and time, you are counted as late and will be deducted 1//2 grade per day. I will not accept assignments over email. Late work policy Late work is not acceptable. If you miss an assignment, an excused absence is given only if you can present me with an appropriate written excuse from your doctor for emergency purposes. In other words, please do not schedule to have your teeth cleaned during my class hours, but if you or your children are sick enough to require emergency medical treatment, you will not be penalized for missed assignments. Please talk to me at least two weeks in advance to arrange for any other type absence (e.g., weddings, etc.). There are no exceptions to this rule. Respecting the Classroom Environment Disruptions during class time will not be tolerated. If you disrupt the class, you will be asked to leave. These behaviors detract from the learning environment in the classroom and are rude to your fellow students and instructor. There will be absolutely NO mobile phone use in the class. This means no phone calls and no text messaging. Personal correspondence should be conducted on your own time. If I see you using a mobile phone, including for text messaging, you will be asked to leave the classroom for the day. You will not be permitted to make up any work missed as a result. I understand that mobile phones are useful in emergency situations, so please make specific arrangements with me beforehand if you need to keep you cell phone on vibrate for emergency purposes. I will allow the use of laptops in the classroom. While using a laptop computer has the potential for enhancing student note taking, most students in my experience use it to surf the internet, email friends, or work on non-course related materials during class. If you have tasks other than anthropology that you would rather be working on, please have the courtesy to the other students and me to do so outside of the classroom. Syllabus Changes to the Syllabus This syllabus does not represent a formal contract. I will make every effort to cover all the material listed below, but I reserve the right to make changes, as necessary, to this syllabus at any time. Students are responsible for tracking any changes in the syllabus that are announced in class. Changes in the schedule, including readings and out of the classroom projects and screenings will be posted on Cougar Courses. Please monitor the website for changes.

Week 1 Wednesday- August 28, 2013

Yes, you must come to class: an introduction! Topic 1: Why Cultural Anthropology? Topic 2: Syllabus and Expectations! Topic 3: Anthropology-Four Field Approach Required Readings for Week 1: 1. Kottak: Chapter 1: What is Anthropology 2. Begin Conklin

Week 2 Wednesday-September 4, 2013

This Thing Called Culture Topic 1: The Characteristics of Culture Topic 2: Agency and Practice Topic 3: Ethnocentrism; Cultural Relativism; Ethical Relativism Required Readings for Week 2: Read: Kottak-Chapter 2- Culture Read: Miner, Body Ritual Among the Nacerima (online-COUGAR COURSE)

Week 3 Wednesday-September 11, 2013

You can tuna piano.but can you tuna fish? Topic 1: What is language? Topic 2: The Structure of Language Topic 3: Primates and Language Topic 4: Metaphors and Metonyms Readings for this week: Read: Kotak, Chapter 4: Language Read: Conklin Video: Darmok

Week 4 Wednesday-September 18, 2013

Where is the nearest market? Topic 1: Adaptive Strategies Topic 2: Adaptive Strategies- food Topic 3: The Food System Readings for this week: Read: Kottak- Chapter 5: Making a Living (up to page 93) Read: Conklin Video: Food Matters (Netflix)- optional

Week 5 Wednesday-September 25, 2013

Political and Economic Systems-How Sushi Went Global Topic 1: Distribution and Exchange Topic 2: Globalization Topic 3: Onka's Big Moka (video) Readings for this week: Read: Kottak, Chapter 5: and 6 Economic and Political Systems pp. 93-107 Read: How Sushi Went Global (online COUGAR COURSE)

Week 6 Wednesday-October 2, 2013

Midterm 1: Anthropology; Culture; Language; Subsistence; Political; Miner; Bohannon: Sushi; Onka Kottak: pp. 1-139; Conklin

Week 7 Wednesday-October 9, 2013

Why Did I Get Married? Topic 1: Families and Kinship Topic 2: Marriage Topic 3: Not your ordinary marriage! Readings for this week: Read: Kottak, Chapter 7: Families, Kinship, and Marriage

Week 8 Wednesday-October 16, 2013

Sugar and Spice and puppy dog tails Topic 1: Identity Topic 2: Sex and Gender Topic 3: Sexual Preference Readings for this week Read: Kottak, Chapter 8: Gender Read: Peyote Hunt Video: For the Bible Tells Me So

Week 9 Wednesday-October 23, 2013

Body Modification: Tattoos: fashion do's and donts Topic 1: The Body Topic 2: Aesthetics Topic 3: The Habitus Topic 4: Modification or Mutilation? Readings for this week: Reading: Tattooing the Body: Marking Culture. Fisher, Jill. (Cougar Course) Reading: Body modification: Masculinity and tattooing in Santa Cruz. Bowen-Jones et al. (Cougar Course) Reading: Body Beautiful: Symbolism and Agency in the Social World Reischer et al. (Cougar Course) Video: Modified

Read: Peyote Hunt Week 10 Wednesday-October 30, 2013

Class will meet at the Escondido Center for the Performing Arts on Friday November 1, 2013 6-9 p.m.

Da de los Muertos - Day of the Dead and Ballet Folkorico Tierra Calliente Week 11 Wednesday-November 6, 2013
Midterm 2: Kinship and Marriage; Rites of Passage; Gender and Identity; Body Modification; Dia de los Muertos; Peyote Hunt

Week 12 Wednesday-November 13, 2013

"Symbols and Slobmys!: Food and Ritual" Topic 1: What are symbols? Topic 2: Chocolate, Oysters, and Pasta! Topic 3: Dining with thy enemy! Readings for this week: Read: Anthropology of Food and Eating (Cougar Course) Read: Food Gifts (Cougar Course) Read: Peyote Hunt Video: Like Water for Chocolate

Week 13 Wednesday-November 20, 2013

A Priest, A Rabbi, and A Minister were sitting in a boat. Topic 1: What is religion? Topic 2: Why do we need religion? Topic 3: Science, Religion and Magic Topic 4: Witchcraft Read: Kottak Chapter 9: Religion Read: Peyote Hunt Video: Snake Charmers of Appalachia

Week 14 Wednesday-November 27, 2013 Special Presentation on Religion Week 15 Wednesday- December 4, 2013
Readings for this week: Yes, you can get a job doing Anthropology! Topic 1: Research and Applied Anthropology Topic 2: Applied Anthropology Topic 3: Medical Anthropology Read: Homeopathic Medicine in Oaxaca (Cougar Course) Read: The Epidemiology of a Folk Illness: Susto in Hispanic America (Cougar Course) Video: Traditional Chinese medicine Read: Kottak, Chapter 12: Applying Anthropology Read: Complete Peyote Hunt

Week 16 Wednesday-December 11, 2013 Final- Symbols; Religion; Applied Anthropology; Medical Anthropology; Peyote Hunt

Academic Honesty: Courtesy and respect for people, their ideas, and their work is expected of all participants in the teaching, learning, and research enterprise. Cheating on exams, copying anothers work, representing someone elses work as your own, or helping someone else to do any of these things show a lack of respect and will not be tolerated. Further details about the California State University San Marcoss policy on academic misconduct can be found at: (http://www.csusm.edu/academic_programs/catalog/). ADA Statement: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations must be approved for services by providing appropriate and recent documentation to the Office of Disabled Student Services (DDS). This office is located in Craven Hall 4300A, and can be contacted by phone at (760) 750-4905, or TTY (760) 750 4909. Students authorized by DSS to receive reasonable accommodations should meet with the Department Chair during his or her office hours in order to ensure confidentiality.