Anthropology of Culture

The course is designed as an extensive introduction to the anthropology of culture. The main goals of the course are: 1) to familiarize students with the most important anthropological concepts of culture; 2) to introduce and operationalize the basic concepts and analytical tools in the field of cultural anthropology; 3) to present the historical evolution of the discipline; 4) to present the most important theoretical approaches within the anthropology of culture; 5) to transfer the methodological knowledge and teach the practical skills regarding the methodology of cultural research.

In order to achieve these goals, students will be encouraged to take an active part in lectures by joining discussions and taking a part in various creative activities.

Introduction: The Invention of Culture

Early Definitions of Culture

Emergence of the Cultural Anthropology

Evolution of the Anthropological Thought

Studying Culture: Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology

A Cultural Researcher as a Participant in Culture.

Practical Problems of Ethnography

Interpretative Approach and Reflexivity

Postmodern approach in Cultural Anthropology

Applied Anthropology and the Problem of Engagement

Anthropology of Culture in the Context of Globalization

Anthropology of the Contemporary

Conclusion: Future-oriented Anthropology

Bruder J. Nomadland. Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century. W. W. Norton & Company 2017.

Clifford J. “On Ethnographic Authority” in: Representations No. 2 (Spring, 1983). University of California Press. pp. 118-146.

Darnton R. The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History. Basic Books. New York 1984. [chosen chapter – student’s choice]

Frazer J. The Golden Bough. Chancellor Press. London 2000. [Chapters: 3 and 4]

Geertz C. “Under the Mosquito Net” in: “The New York Times” September 14, 1967 issue. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1967/09/14/under-the-mosquito-net/.

Herodotus. Histories. Roman Roads Media 2013. [Book 2]

◦ https://archive.org/details/HerodotusHistory2019/Herodotus_History_2019/page/n5/mode/2up

Malinowski B. A Diary in the Strict Sense of the Term. Stanford University Press 1983. [chosen parts – student’s choice]

Malinowski B. The Argonauts of the Western Pacific. Fundacja Nowoczesna Polska (wolnelektury.pl project). [Chapter III]

Mead M. Coming of age in Samoa: a study of adolescence and sex in primitive societies. Penguin Books. Harmondsworth 1961. [chapters: II, VI, VII]

◦ https://archive.org/details/comingofageinsam00mead/page/n15/mode/2up

Rabinow P. Marking Time: On the Anthropology of the Contemporary. Princeton University Press. Princeton and Oxford 2008.

Rees T. After Ethnos. Duke University Press. Durham and London 2018.

Wagner R. „The Invention of Culture”. in: The Invention of Culture, R. Wagner, University of Chicago Press. 2016.

The course is designed as an extensive introduction to the anthropology of culture. The main goals of the course are: 1) to familiarize students with the most important anthropological concepts of culture; 2) to introduce and operationalize the basic concepts and analytical tools in the field of cultural anthropology; 3) to present the historical evolution of the discipline; 4) to present the most important theoretical approaches within the anthropology of culture; 5) to transfer the methodological knowledge and teach the practical skills regarding the methodology of cultural research.

In order to achieve these goals, students will be encouraged to take an active part in lectures by joining discussions and taking a part in various creative activities.

Introduction: The Invention of Culture

Early Definitions of Culture

Emergence of the Cultural Anthropology

Evolution of the Anthropological Thought

Studying Culture: Research Methods in Cultural Anthropology

A Cultural Researcher as a Participant in Culture.

Practical Problems of Ethnography

Interpretative Approach and Reflexivity

Postmodern approach in Cultural Anthropology

Applied Anthropology and the Problem of Engagement

Anthropology of Culture in the Context of Globalization

Anthropology of the Contemporary

Conclusion: Future-oriented Anthropology

Bruder J. Nomadland. Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century. W. W. Norton & Company 2017.

Clifford J. “On Ethnographic Authority” in: Representations No. 2 (Spring, 1983). University of California Press. pp. 118-146.

Darnton R. The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History. Basic Books. New York 1984. [chosen chapter – student’s choice]

Frazer J. The Golden Bough. Chancellor Press. London 2000. [Chapters: 3 and 4]

Geertz C. “Under the Mosquito Net” in: “The New York Times” September 14, 1967 issue. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/1967/09/14/under-the-mosquito-net/.

Herodotus. Histories. Roman Roads Media 2013. [Book 2]

◦ https://archive.org/details/HerodotusHistory2019/Herodotus_History_2019/page/n5/mode/2up

Malinowski B. A Diary in the Strict Sense of the Term. Stanford University Press 1983. [chosen parts – student’s choice]

Malinowski B. The Argonauts of the Western Pacific. Fundacja Nowoczesna Polska (wolnelektury.pl project). [Chapter III]

Mead M. Coming of age in Samoa: a study of adolescence and sex in primitive societies. Penguin Books. Harmondsworth 1961. [chapters: II, VI, VII]

◦ https://archive.org/details/comingofageinsam00mead/page/n15/mode/2up

Rabinow P. Marking Time: On the Anthropology of the Contemporary. Princeton University Press. Princeton and Oxford 2008.

Rees T. After Ethnos. Duke University Press. Durham and London 2018.

Wagner R. „The Invention of Culture”. in: The Invention of Culture, R. Wagner, University of Chicago Press. 2016.