BYU-Hawai'i
Introduction to
Cultural Anthropology
Anthropology 105
Tuesday/Thursday
3 Credits
E-mail: kailit@byuh.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday
& Thursday: 9:00am – 11:00am &
Monday,
Wednesday, Friday: By appointment only
Required Text:
SCOPE OF COURSE:
This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to the field of Cultural Anthropology, including its key theoretical concepts, basic research methodologies, and understanding of the range of cultural variability and diversity in our world. We will also explore the importance of this information for our transnational and global world. Lastly, we will examine some of the critiques of anthropology.
CLASS FORMAT: Kāinga Dialogue
In this class, we will use a Moana (Oceanic) learning format known as "Fofola e Fala Kae Alea e Kāingá" (Roll out the Mats and Let Kin Members Dialogue). This format is based on the cultural practice of kāinga (kin members) sitting together on a mat to engage one another in a respectful and critical dialogue. In this class, all students are members of a classroom kāinga (classroom kin). Students are expected to participate in communal learning and to engage one another in critical dialogues. Students will be graded on their ability to participate in the kāinga dialogues (5 points for each kāinga dialogue). As members of the classroom kāinga, all students are required to come to each class fully prepared to discuss the readings and take an active role in class activities.
Class members are encouraged to draw from their "local and situated knowledge" (knowledge derived from their lived experiences) to enrich class dialogues. Remember that valuable knowledge is also found outside of written texts.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
· Describe the wide range and variability of human culture.
· Evaluate culture as a holistic and integrated system.
·
Evaluate the concept of ethnocentrism/romanticization
and the value of respecting other ways of life. Explain one's perspective on
one's own culture.
·
Describe insights into modern life through the
application of anthropological concepts.
·
Evaluate ethnographic research on other
cultures.
·
Apply critical thinking skills to knowledge and
practices.
WHAT COUNTS:
EVERYTHING! Texts, lectures, real-life assignments, talk-story
sessions, take-home quizzes, kāinga
dialogues, videos, shown in class will be the primary source of data for the
course. Lectures will include not only
illustrative material but supplemental information as well. This
means class attendance is very important.
The take-home quizzes consist of ten questions each, usually multiple choices. Quizzes are due at the beginning of each class. Why do I do this? It is very easy to get behind in your reading, and it is essential for your success in this class that you read your text and attend class lectures. The quizzes are to encourage you to read your text and attend class lectures.
REAL-LIFE ASSIGNMENTS:
The purpose of these real-life assignments is to incorporate your everyday experiences to your learning. You will have a total of 5 real-life assignments—10 points for each assignment.
EXAMS:
The mid-term and final exams will
consist of multiple choices and short answers and will be taken in class. All students should be aware of the
BYUH policy that there are no early final exams. An exception to this policy is
the case of a school sponsored activity which takes an individual or a team
away from the University at the time an examination is scheduled to take
place. Faculty and Administration who
are responsible for scheduling official University activities attempt in every
way to avoid scheduling activities in conflict with the scheduled
examinations. Students must plan travel,
family visits, etc., in a way that will not interfere with their final
exams. Emergency situations should be
presented in writing as soon as possible to the Dean of the college or school
of the student’s major.
GRADES:
Real-life Assignments 50 points
Kāinga Dialogues 50 points
Take-home Quizzes 160 points
Mid-term exam 200 points
Final exam 200 points
Total 660
points
PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Title IX of the education
amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an
educational program or activity that receives federal funds, including Federal
loans and grants. Title IX also covers
student‑to‑student sexual harassment. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment
or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Human Resource Services at 780-8875 (24 hours).
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Brigham Young University-Hawai’i
is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere, which reasonably
accommodates a qualified person with disabilities. If you have a disability that may impair your
ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the students with Special
Need Coordinator, Leilani
Auna at 293-3999 or 293-3518. Reasonable academic accommodations are
reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. If you need assistance or if you feel you
have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of disability, you may
seek resolution through established grievance policy and procedures. You should contact the Human Resource
Services at 780-8875.
SCHEDULE READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE DONE BY THE DATES
LISTED BELOW.
TH 9/1 Introduction to Course. Discussion of syllabus, overview of requirements.
Topic: Critical Thinking (Handout)
Topic: Anthropology and the Study of Culture
Introduce yourself by reciting your
genealogy (3 generations)
T 9/6 Topic: Anthropology and the Study of Culture (cont.)
Real-life Assignment #1: Search for your culture's origin stories. Come to class prepare to share an origin story from your culture.
Quiz #1 Due
TH 9/8 Topic: Methods in Cultural Anthropology
Kāinga Dialogue #1: Does it
seem more effective for a cultural anthropologist to decide to do research
among people who they are "like" or people that they are very
"different" from? Why?
Video: Anthropology on Trial
Quiz #2 Due
T 9/13 Topic: Economies and Their Modes of Production.
A New
Oceania: Rediscovering Our
Quiz #3 Due
TH 9/15 Topic: Consumption and Exchange
Kāinga Dialogue #2: What
are some examples of how contemporary economic change affects consumption and
exchange?
Quiz #4 Due
T 9/20 Topic: Birth and Death
Kāinga Dialogue #3: How does culture shape mortality in different contexts?
Quiz #5 Due
TH 9/22 Topic: Personality, Identity, and Human Development.
Quiz #6 Due
T 9/27 Topic: Illness and Healing.
Real-life Assignment #2: Bring an item from you culture that is used
for healing purposes.
Quiz #7 Due
TH 9/29 Topic: Kinship and Domestic Life.
Kāinga Dialogue #4: Do
you know what inheritance pattern your family follows? If there is more than
one child in the family, how is inheritance decided?
Quiz #8 Due
T 10/4 Topic: Social Groups and Social Stratification
Quiz #9 Due
TH 10/6 Topic: Politics and Leadership.
Real-life Assignment #3: What is used as a symbol of political power in your culture? Come to class prepare to talk about this symbol.
Quiz #10 Due
T 10/11 Topic: Gender and Leadership
Video: Whale Rider
TH 10/13 Mid-Term Exam
T 10/18 Topic: Social Order and Social Conflict
Quiz #11 Due
TH 10/20 Topic: Social Order and Social Conflict (cont.)
Video: Kava Kuo Heka: Royal Kava Ceremony of
Kāinga Dialogue #5: Consider
a current international dispute. How do the media present the issues and
interests? What more would an anthropologist want to know? How would
anthropological knowledge help to bring about a solution?
T 10/25 Topic: Communication.
Real-life assignment #4: Trace the meaning of your name (first name or last name). Come to class prepare to share the meaning of your name.
Quiz #12 Due
TH 10/27 Topic: Imperialism of Language
Moving
the Center: The Struggle for Cultural Freedoms.
Kāinga Dialogue #6: Would
the world be better off with many different languages spoken or with just one
universal language?
T 11/1 Topic:
Religion.
Quiz #13 Due
TH 11/3 Topic: Religion and Culture
Kāinga Dialogue #7: How
do world religions illustrate globalization and localization?
T 11/8 Topic:
Expressive Culture
Real-life Assignment #5: Bring an art item (painting, music, poem,
etc) from your culture
Quiz #14 Due
TH 11/10 Topic: Time-Space and Art
Video: Skin Stories (Tattoo)
T 11/15 Topic: Indigenous Anthropology
Kāinga Dialogue #8:
TH 11/17 Topic: People on the Move
Quiz #15 Due
T 11/22 Topic: Indigenous Anthropology
Talk-Story: Ty Kawika Tengan, UH (Hawaiian Anthropologist) and Mark
Henare,
TH 11/24 No
School – Thanksgiving
T 11/29 Topic: People on the Move (Cont.)
Video: A Chief in Two Worlds
TH 12/1 Topic: Diaspora and the Internet
Kāinga
Dialogue #9:
T 12/6 Topic:
Development Anthropology
Kāinga Dialogue #10: What
is involved in the anthropological critique of development projects in terms of
major findings? How has the critique led to improved strategies for improving
human welfare?
Quiz #16 Due
TH 12/8 Review for Final Exam
T 12/13 Final Exam 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.