ANTH 441
ANTHROPOLOGICAL THEORY

1. Catalog Entry

ANTH 441. Anthropological Theory
Three hours lecture (3).

Prerequisite: ANTH 121 and ANTH 220.

Study of anthropological theories which provide explanationsfor cultural variation and for the modes of analysis used when studying cultures. The major anthropological schools of thought and the issues they raise in the study of cultures are discussed.

2. Detailed Description of Content of Course

I. What characterizes anthropology as a discipline?

A. The nature of anthropology: science, social science, or humanity
B. The domain of anthropological inquiry
C. The concept of culture
D. Holism and a cultural systems perspective
E. Comparison and cultural variation
F. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism
G. The emic/etic distinction
H. Theory, explanation, and critical thinking

II. History of anthropology: dominant theoretical orientations of nineteenth and early twentieth century anthropology

A. Nineteenth century classical evolutionism

1. History, evolution, progress, and the comparative method

B. The American historical school

1. Historical particularism
2. Culture and personality

C. British social anthropology

1. Functionalism
2. Structural-functionalism

III. Post World War II paradigms in anthropology

A. Cultural materialism

1. Contemporary evolutionism
2. Cultural ecology
3. Marxist anthropology

B. Formal analysis

1. Structuralism
2. Cognitive anthropology/ ethnoscience/ new ethnography

C. Symbolic paradigms

1. Symbolic anthropology
2. Interpretive/humanistic/reflexive anthropology

IV. Final considerations

A. Current discussions on the nature of anthropology: science, social science, or humanity
B. Present and future directions in anthropology

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

A combination of lecture and informal discussion is used in this course. Both focus upon assigned readings, library research projects, and audio-visual presentations.

4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students will:

1. develop an appreciation for the major issues and concerns in the study of anthropology;
2. become familiar with the history of anthropology and survey the literature from the major theoretical schools in anthropology;
3. gain a better understanding of the importance of theory and explanation in anthropology;
4. develop skills of critical thinking which they can apply toward their study of anthropology.

5. Assessment Measures

Students may be graded on the basis of in-class or take-home essay examinations, oral presentations, term papers or projects, journals, class attendance and participation.

6. Other Course Information

Students may be asked to conduct library research in addition to reading assigned text materials. Informal, in-class writing may be used to stimulate discussion. Students taking the course for graduate credit are also required to write an additional research paper on a topic tailored to their special interests in the class.

7. Review and Approval

DATE ACTION REVIEWED
September, 2001 Reviewed Peggy A. Shifflett