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Soc 202 Cultural Anthropology--Fall 2006 Part A

PART A. INTRODUCTION TO CULTURE ANTHROPOLOGY

Aug 22

Course introduction
For today, look through the two websites below. I ask you to do this to get a beginning understanding of the many, many excellent anthropology sites on the World Wide Web. Memorize the name and a summary of the content of one of these sites. There may be a question on Exam I for you to write about this site.
Anthrotech
University of Michigan Musuem of Anthropology
National Geographic article

Types of anthropology
As will be explained in class, one way to classify to classify anthropology is dividing it into four types: physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology. Physical anthropology looks at the biological aspects of being human including our relationship to the animal world and human variation or race. The first week we will focus on physical anthropology before looking at cultural anthropology.

Physical anthropology
Modern Human Variation from Palomar College
Read the sections: overview; models of classification, and distribution of blood types. Know the bolded terms seen in the text and take the quizzes at the end of each of these three sections. What do you find interesting about this site?

Physical anthropology - Jane Goodall
This next two sites are included because Jane Goodall is perhaps the most famous living anthropologist and her work in physical anthropology is interesting and important.
Janegoodall.org home page--Briefly explain the Jane Goodall Institute.
Janegoodall.org Chimpanzee Central-- Note the two main sections--About Chimpanzees and Chimpanzee Conversation. About Chimapanzees contains the following sections - choose any two of these sections and summarize each of these two section in at least 100 words:

  • Physical characteristics
  • Habitat
  • Chimp behavior
    • communication
    • hunting
    • social structure
    • waterfall display
  • Similarities to people
    • so like us
    • blurring the line
  • Gombe National Park
    • wildlife research
    • tool use
    • the F family
    • Flo
    • Freud
    • Fifi

Chimpanzee Conversation contains the following sections - choose any two of these sections and summarize each of these two sections in at lest 100 words:

  • Habitat loss
  • Chimps in research
  • Chimps as pets
  • Entertainment chimps
  • HIV in chimps

Physical anthropology
The human brain
Serendip from Bryn Mawr College
The human brain is what helps separate people from the rest of the animal world. You are not responsible for anything on this site. I thought you might be interested in doing a bit of study in it.

Types of anthropology: archaeology
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (from University of South Florida) Archaeologists have helped restore these wonders. List and describe the seven wonders. Note one site you find interesting. Summarize in at least 150 words what you found interesting about this site. Scroll down this site and access the map of the seven wonders. Be able to find each wonder on this map.

Biblical archaeology
Bibarch.com
I thought you might be interested in this site. For the exam be able to give a brief explanation of this site.
Aug 29

Cultural anthropology
Throughout the term, we will look at a variety of different cultures including websites from The Peoples of The World Foundation: Education for and about Indigenous (native) Peoples. The first culture from this larger website looks at the Chenhu. Make sure you know where each one of these cultures are geographically located.

Indigenous (native) Peoples: The Chenchu

  1. In what country do the Chenchu live?
  2. Briefly describe their meals. How do they feel about material wealth?
  3. What has centuries of forest life done to the Chenchu?
  4. What is the ir relationship with the outside world?
  5. What is a "Penta"? Define "Pelli".
  6. What is the role of the elders?
  7. Describe their belief system.

Indigenous (native) Peoples: Tampuan

  1. What country do the Tampuan live in?
  2. Why are the Tampuan in the midst of cultural change?
  3. Why do a lot of their children not go to school?
  4. How do they feel about the spirit world?
  5. How do their young people feel about education?

Cultural anthropology
Overview of Ethnicity

  1. Know the definition of the terms that are underlined or bolded.
  2. Know what the various photos in this website are illustrating.
  3. Know the answers to the items in the quiz at the end of this reading.
  4. In at least 250 words, what do you find interesting or significant about the ideas in this reading?

Nature of Ethnicity

  1. Know the definition of the terms that are underlined or bolded.
  2. Know what the various photos in this website are illustrating.
  3. Know the answers to the items in the quiz at the end of this reading.
  4. In at least 250 words, what do you find interesting or significant about the ideas in this reading?
Sept 5

Attitudes About Culture
Ethnocentrism

  1. Respond to the following questions seen in this site.
  2. What is it? Why are people ethnocentric?
  3. What is the problem?
  4. What can we do about it?

Cultural Anthropology
What is Culture?

  1. What is the purpose of this learning topic?
  2. Access "A baseline definition of culture".
  3. Know the different definitions of culture seen here.
  4. Which definition makes the most sense to you? Explain why.

Cultural Anthropology
An Ethnomusicological Investigation of Techno/Rave

  1. Summarize the section "introduction".
  2. What is Techno? What are the features of the music?
  3. Summarize the Subgenres of the Scene.
  4. Raving to the Max: Style of the Raver subculture.
  5. House History: The Roots of Techno
  6. The Ideology of the House: Post-Pop Politics?
  7. How is Techno Made?
  8. Generation E: Ecstasy, Smart Bars, and Drugs in the Rave Scene.
  9. "Sample THIS!": Issues in Techno
  10. Conclusion and Reflections: Music, Mediation, Culture

What is an Ethnographic Field Collection?

  1. Scroll down to "Go to". There you will find many sites.
  2. Choose one site and summarize it in at least 100 words.

Indonesia's "Amish" Live Outside Economy: An Ethnography

  1. Who are the Baduy and where do they live?
  2. Why are they compared with the Amish?
  3. What effect has trade and development had on the Baduy?
  4. How does the Baduy dress code differ from that of Muslims?
  5. What does Ms. Kosasih say is the "core of their ethnic identity"?

Body Ritual Among the Nacirema

  1. Develop four questions you have about the Nacerima group.
  2. What are your thoughts about these people?
Sept 12 EXAM I

Part B

 

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