Anthropology’s Clock: Time, Tense, Temporality

Catalog description

What tools does anthropology acquire to examine questions about time, and whose time do anthropologists often study? In this course, we will read ethnographic work spanning different moments in the history of the discipline of Anthropology in which the problem of writing about time, and particularly the time of others, is posed. By understanding key concepts through which anthropologists have captured the richness of temporal experiences, we will explore the magic and elusiveness of time in the life of people and cultures, all while telling a particular story about anthropology’s own experience with time. In our weekly readings, we will bring together ethnography and theory, complemented by materials such as short films and novel excerpts. Each week will attend to a specific temporal phenomenon, which will help us further explore the relationship between time, ethnography, and critique. Throughout the semester, we will also engage in a series of “fieldnote-taking” exercises. These short entries will serve as a way to connect the readings on the syllabus with your own attempts to write about time and will contribute to the development of your midterm paper and form the foundation of your final paper