INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
Anthropology 101
Fall 2006 – 9-9:50 & 10-10:50 in RKS 178
Instructor: Nathan Meeker
Office: RKS 132G, ext.1358
Email: meekern@byui.edu
Office Hours: M F from 3-5, T from 3-4, & Th 10-11
Course Description
At its root, anthropology is about understanding human beings and developing human
understanding. This means that anthropology involves the study of people — a study that is
defined very broadly. Anthropological questions overlap with questions asked in biological and
physical sciences, in social sciences, in humanities, and in fine arts. What sets anthropology apart
from these other disciplines is anthropology’s unique focus on ―culture‖.
This course focuses mainly on cultural anthropology, including traditional institutions in various
human societies worldwide. Following a brief introduction to the four fields of anthropology
(cultural, physical, archaeology, linguistics), issues fundamental to the human experience are
explored through readings, films and class discussions. Important topics include human
evolution, stratification, marriage, kinship, art, and globalization.
Objectives
Awaken in you a sense of how good you really are (Sister Parkin)!
Increase your understanding and tolerance of differences in other people.
Question commonly held assumptions about what is "normal" or "natural" in human
experience.
Expose students to critical perspectives on the problems confronting our species.
Recommended Text
Ember, Carol R., Melvin Ember, and Peter N. Peregrine. 2005. Anthropology, 11th Edition.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Required Text
Podolefsky, Aaron, and Peter J. Brown. 2003. Applying Anthropology: An Introductory Reader.
New York: McGraw-Hill.
Grade Breakdown
In-class Quizzes (14) 50%
Class Participation 20%
Journal Writing 20%
Journal Paper 10%
A = 93% C = 73%
A- = 90% C- = 70%
B+= 87% D+= 67%
B = 83% D = 63%
B- = 80% D- = 60%
C+= 77% F = 59% or below
Quizzes (50%)
In-class quizzes will be given 14 times throughout the semester. They will consist of 7 multiple
choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions worth 3pts each for a total of 20 pts per quiz
(if you get all of the questions right you’ll earn 1 extra credit point). These quizzes are given as
an alternative to exams and are to encourage you to study reading assignments and lecture
material before coming to class. Quizzes will only be given at the beginning of class. If you
miss class or are late, you will not be able to make up the quiz. Therefore, class attendance
is highly recommended. However, your two lowest quiz scores will be dropped.
Class Participation (20%)
During the semester there will be multiple class activities allowing you to earn participation
points. These will be in-class opportunities to apply key concepts and ideas in small group
situations. You must be present and participate the entire class session in order to earn these
participation points. There are no opportunities to make up these activities if you miss them.
If there have been major personal issues that you feel have hurt your participation score
please meet with me during my office hours.
Journal Writing (20%)
Each student will be expected to write (at least a small paragraph) in their journal on a daily
basis. Ideas to consider writing about in your journal that relate to Anthropology will be given in
class. Between the first day of class and 12/14 there are 100 days to complete your journal
writing. Each day of writing in your journal will be worth 1 pt. For each day that you miss
writing in your journal, you will be penalized 3 pts. Therefore, it is to your advantage to
not miss too many days of writing in your journal.
Journal Paper (10%)
Each student will write a four page double-spaced (or two page single-spaced) paper reflecting
on what you’ve learned about yourself and others throughout the semester. Be sure to mention
anthropological concepts or ideas that have influenced the way you think about the world. This
should be a well-written paper with few grammatical errors. Critical thinking and
insightful introspection should be prevalent in your paper. Turn your papers in on time.
Late papers will not be accepted.
Attendance
Regular attendance is highly recommended. I will not be taking daily attendance. However, it is
to your advantage to attend each class period since 70% of your grade (quizzes and participation)
are based on attendance and preparedness.
Handout and Lecture Note policy
I make one copy of the handouts per student. You are responsible for finding replacement copies.
I do not make my notes available to students. If you miss class, you must get them from
another student.
Academic Dishonesty
Cheating will not be tolerated at any time. Any person suspected of cheating will be handled in
accordance with the policies and procedures of Brigham Young University-Idaho.
Class Schedule
You are expected to have read the required readings prior to the class period.
DAY Topic and Assignments
9/6 Introduction to the Course and Expectations
Culture and Fieldwork
9/8 Body Ritual Among The Nacirema (Podolefsky p. 114)
9/11 Tricking and Tripping: Fieldwork on Prostitution in the era of AIDS
(Podolefsky p. 130)
9/13 Crack in Spanish Harlem (Podolefsky p. 122)
Culture and Communication
9/15 Shakespeare in the Bush (Podolefsky p. 144)
9/18 Silence in Western Apache culture (Podolefsky p. 150)
9/20 Cultural Approach to male-female miscommunication (Podolefsky p.160)
Culture and Food
9/22 Eating Christmas in the Kalahari (Podolefsky p. 228)
9/25 Chinese Table Manners: You are how you eat (Podolefsky p. 185)
9/27 Culture and the Evolution of Obesity (Podolefsky p. 192)
Culture and Agriculture
9/29 The worst mistake in the history of the human race (Podolefsky p.70)
10/2 The domestication of wood in Haiti (Podolefsky p. 238)
10/4 Two rights make a wrong (Blackboard)
Race and Ethnicity
10/6 Race without color (Podolefsky p. 203)
10/9 Official Statement on race (Podolefsky p. 210)
10/11 White Privilege (Podolefsky p. 212)
Economy and Business
10/13 Strings Attached (Podolefsky p. 233)
10/16 Using cultural skills for cooperative advantage in Japan(Podolefsky p.247)
10/18 Family planning outreach in rural Bangladesh (Blackboard)
Gender and Socialization
10/20 Our babies, ourselves (Podolefsky p. 261)
10/23 Measuring up to Barbie (Blackboard)
10/25 Doing Gender, Doing Surgery (Podolefsky p. 274)
Kinship, Marriage & Family
10/27 When Brothers Share a Wife (Podolefsky p. 283)
10/30 Law, customs, and crimes against women (Podolefsky p. 288)
11/ 1 African Polygyny (Podolefsky p. 299)
Politics, Law, and Warfare
11/3 The Kpelle Moot (Podolefsky p. 313)
11/6 Contemporary warfare in New Guinea (Podolefsky p. 321)
11/8 Life stories, disclosure, and the law (Blackboard)
Culture, Religion, and Ritual
11/10 Do Muslim women really need saving? (Blackboard)
11/13 The adaptive value of religious ritual (Blackboard)
11/15 Hallucinogenic plants and in traditional societies (Podolefsky p.338)
Culture and Health
11/17 Culture, Poverty, and AIDS in Haiti (Blackboard)
11/20 The Viral Superhighway (Blackboard)
11/27 Teaching Framework for cross-cultural health (Blackboard)
Globalization and Culture Change
11/29 Cell Phones, Sharing, and Social Status in Africa (Blackboard)
12/1 Circumcision, Pluralism, and Cultural Relativism (Podolefsky p.351)
12/4 The Price of Progress (Podolefsky p. 374)
Biological Anthropology
12/6 Teaching Theories: Evolution-Creation controversy (Podolefsky p.6)
12/8 The Tall and Short of It (Podolefsky p. 56)
Archeology
12/11 Battle of the Bones (Podolefsky p. 64)
12/13 New Women of the Ice Age (Podolefsky p. 74)
12/15 Easter’s End (Podolefsky p. 92)
Turn in Journal Writing Score
12/18 Turn in Journal Paper