Although we are most often associated with studies of small-scale societies, frequently located in remote parts of the world, cultural anthropologists are also increasingly conducting research in more complex societies. Today s anthropologists can be found studying such varied topics as the working poor in New York City, film production in Bolivia, and environmental activism in eastern Europe. Regardless of where the research takes place, the purpose of much contemporary anthropological analysis is to bring a comparative, cross-cultural approach to understanding how human beings respond to the challenges of living in the modern world.
Cultural anthropologists take a holistic approach to the study of humankind.
To understand these interrelationships, the anthropologist immerses himself or herself in the culture of study while striving to retain an outsider s analytical perspective. In this course, we will examine some of the dominant methods, theories, and debates informing the discipline of cultural anthropology. In addition to studying the content of anthropological analyses, we will also study the processes of conducting anthropological fieldwork and some of the practical applications of anthropological knowledge. Readings for the course have been chosen to provide you with a sampling of various ways anthropologists write about what we study. The following books are available for purchase at the Campus Bookstore.