Description
Introduction to basic methods and theories used by sociocultural anthropologists in the field, with a focus on the dynamic nature of culture. Social and cultural variations of human kind will be analyzed by comparing the life ways of various Western and non-Western peoples.
Grading Basis
Graded
Course Learning Outcomes
Core Topics
- Introduction to the field of sociocultural anthropology: fieldwork, culture shock and self-awareness
- Ethnocentrism and culture relativity in field work – awareness of self and bias
- Nature of culture and the social construction of race, caste and class
- Language and thought: How does language acquisition affect our group definitions and identities?
- Kinship and descent: Who has what family obligations?
- Gender, identity and marriage systems: Who can one marry and why?
- Economic systems: access to resources, status and wealth
- Exchange and the gift: Who do we trade with and how? local reciprocity to international trading
- Political systems, cultural change, and cultural contact
- Religious systems: continuity and change