ANT 3034: Anthropological Theories
Spring 2013Prof. Laura Ogden
MW 5-6:15Office: SIPA 313
Room: VH 131Phone: 305.348.6663
Office Hours: 3- 4:30 (Mon/Wed) Email:
& by appointment
Teaching Assistants
Julia Meszaros
Course Description
In this course, we will explore the history of ideas that have shaped the discipline of anthropology, especially sociocultural anthropology. We begin the course with a brief introduction of the field, then study the basic philosophical and theoretical foundations which inform theory making. Throughout the course, we will examine the work of specific theorists, paying particular attention to the historical context of their ideas and the intersections of professional and personal experience with the development of theory. In addition, we will critically examine the recurring questions that anthropologists apply theory to, such as: How do we understand cultural change? or What is the relationship of culture to biological worlds?
Course Format
The format of this course is both lecture and seminar and participation is strongly encouraged. Because of this structure, we are all equally responsible for reading, analyzing, and discussing the course assignments (prior to coming to class). Please bring readings to class with you.
Texts(available at the campus bookstore & Amazon)
2012McGee, Jon R and Richard L. Warms. Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History (Fifth Edition). Boston: McGraw Hill.
2007Cerwonka, Allaine and Liisa H. Malkki. Improvising Theory: Process and Temporality in Ethnographic Fieldwork. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press.
****this book is also available in kindle edition (amazon) and as an ebook at the university of chicago press website:
Course Assignments
Participants are required to attend class, take notes on lectures and readings, and contribute to class discussion. Course materials are available on blackboard. Specific course assignments include:
1)Lectures & Attendance: Class attendance is required. Your exams will include material from the lectures. Coming into class late is very distracting. Therefore, if you are late please quietly sit down in the back of the classroom. Discussion is an important part of learning, so please participate in the class discussions. You may earn up to 50 discussion points for class participation.
2)Midterm and Final Exams: Exams will be in-class and will include multiple-choice, short answer, and an essay question. Bring a “blue book” with you to class for the midterm and final, available at the student book store.
3)Theory Discussion Papers: For these papers, we will discuss sections from Improvising Theory (by Cerwonka and Malkki). Papers will be five pages, double-spaced, with standard margins. We will discuss the parameters for each assignment during class. In addition, assignment information for each theory discussion paper will be posted in the assignments section of blackboard. Five points per day will be deducted for late assignments.
You will submit your paper through and comments on papers will be posted on turnitin (This is accessed through blackboard).
Extra Credit: Each semester we all have personal, technical or work-related problems and conflicts that interfere with our course work. For that reason, I have built in 50 extra credit points into our grading system. Every student automatically receives these points (without doing a thing!). No other extra credit is available. Therefore, unless you are seriously ill or have a family emergency that is verifiable – there will be no makeups on missed assignments.
Policy on Plagiarism. As a reminder, plagiarism is cheating. Plagiarism includes not only directly copying someone else’s words, but also using their ideas and insights from other authors without citing their work. The disciplinary action that will be taken in the case of plagiarism is explained in the section on “Academic Misconduct” in the Student Handbook.
Course Communication. If you have problems or questions, please email me via the blackboard system. I will respond to your email within 24 hours. You are always welcome to come and talk to me during my office hours.
METHOD OF ASSESSMENTParticipation in class discussions / 50
Theory discussion papers (100 points each) / 400
Midterm / 200
Final exam / 300
Extra credit / 50
Total / 1000
Please note the total points possible in this course is 1000; extra credit points have been built into the method of assessment.
Course Grades:
Letter Grade / Range / Letter Grade / Range / Letter Grade / RangeA / above 941 / B- / 840-800 / D+ / 699-660
A- / 940-900 / C+ / 799-760 / D / 659-640
B+ / 899-860 / C / 759-740 / D- / 639-600
B / 859-840 / C- / 739-700 / F / 599
DATE / TOPIC / READINGS / OTHER
Week 1
(Jan. 7 - 11) / Anthropology, theory and epistemology
Nineteenth Century Evolutionism, Spencer & Tylor / McGee & Warms (6 -45) / GET BOOKS
Week 2
(Jan. 14 - 18) / Darwin & Marx, Morgan / McGee & Warms (45 – 73)
Week 3
(Jan. 21 - 25) / Foundations of Sociological Thought: Durkheim, Mauss, Weber / McGee & Warms (74 – 110)
Week 4
(Jan. 28 – Feb. 1)
Jan 21 no school / Historical Particularism
Boas & Kroeber / McGee & Warms (112 – 130) / Theory Discussion Paper 1, due Jan. 30 in class
Week 5
(Feb. 4 – 8) / Functionalism: Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown / McGee & Warms (150 – 181)
Week 6
(Feb. 11 - 15) / Culture & Personality: Benedict, Mead / McGee & Warms (195 – 217)
Week 7
(Feb. 18 - 22) / Evolutionary Thought: White & Steward / McGee & Warms (220 – 258) / Midterm review
Theory Discussion Paper 2, Due Feb. 20, in class
Week 8
(Feb. 25 – Mar 1) / Neomaterialism: Harris, Rappaport, Wolf / McGee & Warms (259 - 319) / Midterm: Feb. 27
Week 9
(Mar 4 - 8) / Sociobiology, Evolutionary Psychology, and Behavioral Ecology / McGee & Warms (370 – 395)
Week 10
Spring Break
Week 11
(Mar 18 - 22) / Anthropology & Gender:
Slocum, Leacock, Valentine / McGee & Warms (396 – 437) / Theory Discussion Paper 3, March 20, in class
Week 12
(Mar 25 - 29) / Symbolic & Interpretive Anthropology: Douglas, Turner, Geertz / McGee & Warms (438 - 487
Week 13
(April 1 - 5) / Background to Postmodernism: Bourdieu, Foucault / McGee & Warms (488 – 519)
Week 14
(April 8 - 12) / Postmodernism: Rosaldo, Abu-Lughod, Hanson / McGee & Warms (520 – 564) / Theory Discussion Paper 4, April 10
Week 15
(April 15 – 19) / Globalization, Power, & Agency: Appadurai, Bourgois, Bestor / McGee & Warms (565 – 615) / Final Exam Review
Week 16
(April 22 - 26 / Final TBA / Final Exam
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