Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Class: Bachelors
Course: Introduction to Anthropology
Credit Hours: 3
Course Code: B.Beh-Sc-122
Overview
This course is an introduction to the field of Anthropology. As a broad and diverse discipline,
anthropology aims to construct a holistic understanding of the human species by integrating
research on the cultural, biological, evolutionary, linguistic and historical aspects. Through the
comparative study of different cultures, anthropology explores fundamental questions about
what it means to be human. It seeks to understand how culture both shapes societies, from the
smallest island in the South Pacific to the largest Asian metropolis, and affects the way
institutions work. This course will provide a framework for analyzing diverse facets of human
experience such as gender, ethnicity, language, politics, economics, and art. By focusing on
diversity, this works lays a foundation for understanding the universal underpinning of our
societies, cultures, and languages.
Prerequisites: None
Objectives
To define anthropology and discuss how it differs from other social sciences
To identify the major specializations within anthropology and explain their goals
To explain the key concepts and issues of concern to anthropologists
To identify the major approaches/perspectives used in anthropology and discuss their
influence on ethnographic research.
To assess the value of cultural relativism in anthropology and everyday life.
To discuss the value and relevance of anthropology.
Outcomes
Introduction
Significance of the course Organization of the course and the subject matter.
Module I
Defining Anthropology
Module II
Module III
Module IV
Gender, Race & Ethnicity
Defining gender, race and ethnicityGender roles gender
stereotypesstratificationethnic group
Module V
Kinship, Family and Marriage
Module VII
Religion, Myth & Magic
Anthropology of religionDefining religionTypes and functions of religion –
monotheism, polytheism, animism, Totemism, Shamanism, CultsDefining mythFunctions
of MythDefining Magic
Module VIII
Political Anthropology
Defining Political AnthropologyTypes of political system – band, Tribes, Clan, Sodalities,
Chiefdom, States Political Organization - Political power, Authority, Feudalism
Module IX
Arts and Aesthetics
Secular and Religious ArtsArt and GenderForms of Artistic Expression - Body Arts,
Visual Arts, Performance ArtsSocial Functions of Art
Module X
Applied Anthropology and its Sub-Fields
Required Readings
Talal, A,. (ed.). (1973). Anthropology and the Colonial Encounter. Ithaca.
Coote, J. and Shelton, A. (eds). (1992). Anthropology, Art and esthetics. Oxford.
MacClancy, J. (ed.) (2002). Exotic No More: Anthropology on the Front Lines. Chicago.