ANTH 150: Cultural Anthropology

Fall 2015

Southwestern Illinois College

Meeting: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Location: SWGCC, Room 321
Instructor: Susan Townzen
E-mail: susan.townzen@swic.edu
Course Description
This course introduces students to the central topics, concepts, and methods of cultural
anthropology, focusing on understanding human behavior in the context of the structure and
functioning of culture. Cross-cultural analysis will provide an understanding of the diversity of
human cultures in the world and the universalities that define the human species. The study of the
nature of culture will focus on the relationship of humans to the physical environment, the
interactions among human groups, and the behaviors of humans within groups. Completion of
this course completes the non-western culture requirement for graduation from SWIC.
Prerequisites
Math placement above Math 93 or completion of Math 93 with a grade of C or better; reading and
writing placement at Eng 101 or completion of all reading and writing developmental
requirements.
Course Objectives

To familiarize you with the discipline and contextual study of cultural anthropology.
To clarify the hows (methods), the whys (motivations, concerns), the wheres (fieldwork,
labs, offices), the whats (observations, analysis), and the whens (past history, current
practice) of cultural anthropology.
To identify functional contributions that cultural anthropology can make in the
contemporary world
- as an aid in solving complex social problems
- as a device for developing new social policy
- as a comparative tool in mediating conflict
- as a storehouse of information regarding cultures in transition
To make relevant how the academic study of cultural anthropology applies to you and your
individual growth as a student.
To encourage an appreciation for other cultures, for the social institutions they build, and
for the manners that they negotiate the world.
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Required Texts
Katherine A. Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology & Human Experience: The Feast of Life (Long
Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.) 2011.
Annette B. Weiner, The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Learning) 1988.

Cengage

Additional readings will be posted on Blackboard.

Grading Scale and Attendance
News Briefs and Definitions = 10% of final grade
Weekly Quizzes = 20% of final grade
Weekly Reflection Papers = 20% of final grade
Term Paper = 20% of final grade
Website Participation and Presentation = 20% of final grade
Final Art Project = 10% of final grade

100% - 90% = A
89% - 80% = B
79% - 70% = C
69% - 60% = D

If it becomes apparent that you are no longer attending class, I reserve the right to reduce your
grade and recommend your withdrawal from the course. Three consecutive absences
automatically constitute a withdrawal unless you request accommodations in advance.
Agenda and Assignments
Cultural anthropology does not pass judgment; rather, it searches for insight that promotes
understanding. Even if we disagree with the methods of others, we can still attempt to
comprehend their approaches to life. For this reason, I encourage sensitive engagement with the
materials and respectful treatment of others in the classroom. Our endeavors will encourage
critical thinking through the acquisition, assessment, and application of information and will be
accompanied by earnest and deferential discussions.
While this course is designed to explore cultural anthropology on a global scale, it is also intended
to make relevant course materials on a personal level, to illuminate the connections between its
study and our daily lives. As individuals, we each contribute to our local environment and its
cultural manifestations. We each produce knowledge and experience the impact of society on
ourselves. While course readings present the experiences of others, they also make apparent a
broad range of categories into which we as individuals fit. Within the classroom, this allows for
sharing the diversity of our experiences. When illuminated, these categories create space for
reflection, for communication, and for drawing connections between course materials, others, and
ourselves.
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With the goal of engagement in mind, each reflection paper will address how your experience
correlates to the weekly reading assignment. For example, our second chapter describes various
habitats and methods of acquiring resources. Your reflection should describe where you fit into
these categories, with a description of your home and, if applicable, your job and your manner of
acquiring resources. Each weekly reflection should then proceed accordingly. Note, however, that
this engagement with material does not require disclosure of information with which you are
uncomfortable (particularly when we arrive at the chapters on religion and sexuality). Be truthful,
but don't include personal information that a general reading audience should not know (be
apprised, though, that these reflections and their details will not leave my possession). Reflection
papers function as preparation for the final term paper. They will be graded on organization, on
grammar, and on engagement with the material. We will use them to develop your writing ability.
Include citations where appropriate, though a bibliography is unnecessary.
Focus also will be placed on the development of reading and oral presentation skills. Most weeks,
you should expect to read between 30-40 pages of material (case studies are longer). Readings
should be completed before Tuesday's class. Careful analysis of reading material is essential, as
weekly quizzes on the reading will be given at the beginning of class on Thursdays (please be
punctual, as quizzes cannot be made up). You will be required, at least twice during the semester,
to present significant points from the weekly reading assignments as well. Your grade for
presentations will be based on clarity of ideas and presentation skills.
The final term paper is a 6-10 page comparative analysis, contrasting your experience with that of
another cultural group of your choosing (the Trobrianders are excluded). If helpful, you can
identify an individual hypothetical other. You will make correlations between yourself and your
other, identifying differences and similarities within the categories we have explored in class.
Your grade will be based on clarity of ideas, grammar, structure, and engagement with course
materials. This is a formal paper that should include appropriate citations and a bibliography.
You will also, in small group format, design a website that outlines the anthropological
constructions of a chosen cultural group (the Trobrianders and your term paper group are
excluded). Websites will include a home page and at least six page links, describing the categories
covered in class: governance, habitat, industry and trade, religious practices, creativity, etc. Don't
stress! No coding is required. Using Weebly, creating your pages will be a snap. Your focus will
be research based, gathering material to populate your pages: demographic details (statistical
information about the size, growth, age, ethnicity, distribution, and density of the population),
possible environmental constraints, historical data, contemporary concerns, images, web feeds,
video and audio clips, etc., in order to create an aesthetically pleasing and informative website.
Pages will be graded on clarity of details, creativity, appearance, and functionality. Individual
grades will be assigned based on contributions to the overall production and on in-class
presentations.
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Your final assignment is an art project. You will bring a work of art related to course materials,
presenting it to the class during our final exam meeting. Your presentation will provide historical
background, details on its composition, how and where it is applicable, and the inspiration for
your selection. This is a fun project, which can include a self-made piece, so be creative!
Extra Credit
Extra credit can be earned by attending culturally significant local events that pertain to course
topics. A two page paper describing the event and your experience should be submitted. If
available, staple your ticket stub or program to your essay. Upcoming events to which I am privy
include:

International Institute's Festival of Nations, Saturday, August 29th, and Sunday, August
30th, at Tower Grove Park in St. Louis. Admission is free. Schedule and additional
information is available at www.festivalofnationsstl.org.
Missouri Botanical Garden's Annual Japanese Festival, Labor Day weekend,
www.mobot.org.
The annual Best of Missouri Market planned for November, www.mobot.org.
St. Louis International Film Festival is also in November, see www.cinemastlouis.org.

Additional upcoming events can be found at www.explorestlouis.com. Please check with me to

verify eligibility of other events prior to attendance.
Disability and Access Center
Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations are encouraged to contact
the Disability and Access Center at (618) 222-5368 or (618) 234-3347 (TTD) to ensure that such
accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Academic Honesty
Please see the official SWIC statement on academic honesty. Plagiarism or cheating will earn you
a failing grade on assignments.
Cell Phone Policy
To accommodate possible emergency situations, phones may be set to vibrate. No texting please.
Disruptions will not be tolerated! If you must take a call, please step outside the classroom.

Course Topics, Readings, and Due Dates

Please note that adjustments will be made to reading materials based on class discussions.
Tuesday, August 25th: Introduction
Read Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 1.
Thursday, August 27th: Details, Details
Library, Writing Center, and IT Visits
Selection of website groups and presentation schedule
Tuesday, September 1st: Human Landscapes
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 2.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, September 3rd: Human Landscapes
Chapters 1 & 2 quiz
First 1-2 page reflection paper due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and if applicable, stapled in the upper left
corner.
Website groups: 10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, September 8th: Communities & Organization
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 5.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, September 10th: Communities & Organization
Chapter 5 quiz
Second 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, September 15th: Enculturation & Rulemaking
Selection from Robert L. Welsch and Luis A. Vivanco, "Culture: Giving Meaning to
Human Lives," from Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions about Humanity
(N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2015) 31-38.
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 6.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Film: Lawless

Thursday, September 17th: Enculturation & Rulemaking

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Chapter 6 quiz
Third 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, September 22nd: Economics, Trade & Trafficking
Welsch & Vivanco, "Economics: Working, Sharing, and Buying," in Cultural
Anthropology, 211-235.
Additional Reading TBD.
Global News Brief due
Thursday, September 24th: Economics, Trade & Trafficking
Reading Quiz???
International Institute Speaker???
Tuesday, September 29th: Human Migration
Reading TBD.
Global News Brief due.
Thursday, October 1st: Human Migration
International Institute Visit???
Tuesday, October 6th: No Class
Thursday, October 8th: Mid-term presentation of website progress
Tuesday, October 13th: Gender & Sexuality
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 3.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, October 15th: Gender & Sexuality
Chapter 3 quiz
Fourth 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, October 20th: Ritual & Religion
Welsch and Vivanco, "Religion: Ritual and Belief," 341-369.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, October 22nd: Ritual & Religion
Reading quiz
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Fifth 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, October 27nd: Feast & Festival
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 9.
Additional reading TBD.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, October 29th: Feast & Festival / Da de los Muertos
Chapter 9 quiz
Sixth 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, November 3rd: Creative Humans
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 10.
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, November 5th: Creative Humans
Chapter 10 quiz
Seventh 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, November 10th: Modern Communication
Dettwyler, Cultural Anthropology, chapter 11
Handwritten definitions due at beginning of class.
Thursday, November 12th: Modern Communication
Chapter 11 quiz
Eighth 1-2 page reflection due. Your paper should be double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in upper left corner.
Website groups: 10:35 - 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, November 17th: Case Study
Weiner, The Trobrianders, pp. 1-50.
Thursday, November 19th: Case Study
Weiner, The Trobrianders, pp. 51-96.
Trobrianders quiz
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Website groups: 10:35-10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, November 24th: Case Study
Weiner, The Trobrianders, pp. 97-167.
Thursday, November 26th: Thanksgiving Break
Tuesday, December 1st: Case Study
Reading TBD.
Thursday, December 3rd: Case Study
Reading TBD.
*** Term Paper Due: Your paper should be 6-10 pages, double spaced, 12 point Times
New Roman font, with 1 inch margins and stapled in the upper left corner.
Tuesday, December 8th: Website Presentations
Thursday, December 10th: Website Presentations
Tuesday, December 15th???: Final Art Project Presentations