American Culture Syllabus Contact Information

Dr. David Hartman Department of Anthropology

308 K Chilton Hall Hartman@unt.edu Office Hours: Wednesday 1-3 and by appointment

TA: Herman Abuchowski, Office Hours, Wednesday 11 to 2, Grading students A through Gloria, J. Brittany Donnelly, Office Hours, tuesday and Thursday 2-4. Grading students Golden, K. through Peacock, J. Carrie Hickey, No Office Hours Grading students Pederson, C. through Zitar TBA Monday 10-12 Wednesday 10-12

Email TA's: Contact through Blackboard Mail Office in 308 Chilton Course Description

This course presents what people in the USA and from the outside perceive and encapsulate in the term American culture. Students are briefly exposed to basic concepts and theoretical models used in the anthropological discipline to approach the understanding of cultural values considered to be at the core of American culture. The purpose is to show students the cultural historical processes from which these cultural values have emerged and how have been transformed and are expressed in contemporary times through different themes such as: family, ethnic and cultural diversity, consumerism, entertainment and technology, among others. Learners in this course explore the complexities embedded in the concept of culture as it is exercised in the USA context. A very important companion for learners in the adventure of looking at American culture through anthropological glasses is the use of popular culture in its multiple manifestations (cartoons, Disney movies, films, music, etc.)

Guiding Principles

Culture is not static, it is in constant transformation. The, core societal values constantly change and reflect life styles and social movements. To understand the present, we need to look and analyze the past. The historical past of cultures contain the keys in the analysis and understanding of the origin and genesis of

core cultural characteristics and values. Likewise, the political and ideological contextualization of the present shades our views of the past. Popular culture is expressed in objects, activities and communicative media. It offers significant insights for cultural understanding, history and humanity in general.

Expectations for Success in this Course

Read the lesson and the required assigned material. All the content you need for this class, including links to discussions and assignments, is available under "course content." All of the assignment/discussions are listed in the lessons under Course Content. Due Dates are in the syllabus. Participate fully in the course. Your ideas, comments and feedback expressed in your assignments and shared by faculty and classmates are important and valued. Log into online course more than twice during the week to check for updates, read messages, work on assignments and post them. Manage your time wisely in order to complete your assignments on or before deadlines. Seek assistance immediately if you are experiencing any difficulties. Your instructor or Teaching Assistant can help you in solving the problem.

Learning Outcomes
Students in this course will:

Learn basic anthropological concepts and theoretical models Apply basic anthropological concepts to the analysis and understanding of cultural processes in the past and present of the USA. Identify cultural characteristics and values of the USA culture Use popular culture to analyze USA cultural characteristics and values. Cultural phenomena for study includes: popular and ethnic music, sports, television, advertising and film.

Required Texts:
Boulanger, C.L. (2008) iReflecting on America. Anthropological Views of U.S. Culture. Pearson: New York DeVita & Amstrong (2002) Distant Mirrors. America as a Foreign Culture. 3rd Edition. Wadsworth Kingsolver, B. (1988) The Bean Trees. HarperCollins: New York Films and video clips in the lessons are required. This visual material is included in the assignments. The visual documentation throughout the course can be accessible by the links specified in the lesson.

Evaluation

Insightful, academically appropriate comments are required and your messages and postings will be assessed as part of your final grade. Students in this course will reflect their academic competence by completing:

A. Weekly assignments (There are 12 assignments. The assignments equal 40% of final grade). Go to correct discussion link at the bottom of the Home Page to complete assignments. B. Midterm Exam 30% of final grade C. Final Exam 30 % of final grade

Academic Honesty
You will be part of an academic community so you are expected to exercise honesty and integrity. All work that you submit should be your own. When your ideas and comments are inspired or based on anothers work, make sure to cite references appropriately. Plagiarism is not tolerated. Plagiarism is using anothers words or paraphrasing anothers work without giving proper credit through the use of citations. Turnitin detects internet content, articles and submissions from prior courses. Do not copy from any source. Students suspected of plagiarism will be provided the opportunity for a hearing; a guilty finding will merit an automatic F in the course. The instructor has the right to pursue further disciplinary action within the UNT legal system, which may result in dismissal from the university. For more information on paper writing, including how to avoid plagiarism, and how to use citations, see http://www.unt.edu/anthropology/writing.htm. For information on the Universitys policies regarding academic integrity and dishonesty, see the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, http://www.unt.edu/csrr/.

Course Outline
Date Topic Readings Distant Mirrors: - Chapter 3: Body Ritual Among the Nacirema - Chapter 4: Professor Widjojo Goes to a Koktel Parti - Chapter 5: An Outsiders View of American Culture - Chapter 7: My American Glasses Reflecting on America: - Introduction: We Have Met the Nacirema, and They Are Us(ans) - Chapter 1: The Real People Confront Globalization Distant Mirrors: Chapter 1: One Hundred Prescent

Topic 1:

Topic 2:: Assignment The Anthropological #1 due on 1/29 - No Perspective late submissions.

American - Chapter 2: The American Cultural Configuration Topic 3: Assignment Native American Cultural #2 due on 2/5 - No History late submissions Topic 4: Assignment The Frontier, the West 3 due on 2/12 - No and American Cultural late submissions Values in the Making Topic 5 Assignment #4 due on 2/19 - No late submissions American Civil War and "The South" Reflecting on America: Chapter 2: "A Pilgrimage to the Past: Civil War Reenactors at Gettysburg" Distant Mirrors: - Chapter 19: A European Anthropologists Personal and Ethnographic Impressions of the United States

Topic 6 Assignment The Ingredients of the #5 due on 2/26-No Melting Pot late submissions. Topic 7 Assignment #6 due on 3/5- No late submissions. Review and Discussion Midterm Exam needs to be taken between 3/6 and 3/12. Topic 8 Test 1 (Includes a question on the Bean Trees) Distant Mirrors: 13 The Bean Trees

Topic 9 Assignment 7 American Social due 0n 3/12.. Movements Topic 10 Assignment 8 due on 3/26 Race, Ethnicity and Class Reflections on America: 12

Topic 11 Assignment Language, Culture and 9 due 4/2 Thought Topic 12 ASSIGNMENT 10 DUE 4/9 Life Cycle, Family and Gender

Reflections on America: 15, 16,17, 11 Reflections on America: 10, 14 Distant Mirrors: 11 Reflection on America: 4.5. 6 Reflections on America: 7, 9, 18

Topic 13 Assignment Religion, Myth and Ritual 11 due 4/16. Topic 14 Nov 24 30. Assignment 12 due 4/23 Consumerism and Mass Media and Review and Final Discussion

FINAL EXAM needs to be taken 5/8 - 12 and Core Course Assesment NEEDS TO BE TAKEN BETWEEN between 5/3 - 5/10