Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology

Catalog description

Course introduces the subfield of social and cultural anthropology, which studies living cultures within the United States and around the world. Content includes the pillars of culture, medical anthropology, globalization and topics related to applied anthropology. Students will be introduced to cultural systems of various human groups with particular attention to the impacts of transnationalism and globalization on indigenous and marginalized communities throughout the world as well as those within the United States. Students will explore the diversity of these communities within specific historical contexts and in relation to hegemonic structures of power such as discrimination, marginalization and exploitation based on race and ethnicity, sex and gender, orientation and ability. This course dissects the ethnocentric views at the crux of most cultural conflicts and injustices today and counters these biases with culturally relative approaches to difference, like adopting an insider perspective. Using readings, videos, films and case studies, students will learn to apply an anthropological lens to better understand the challenges and opportunities of our rapidly globalizing world.