Course syllabus

Human Cultures: Introduction to Social Anthropology

Social anthropologists describe and analyse the diversity of human social and cultural life. This course introduces students to basic perspectives and concepts which social anthropologists have developed in order to understand, interpret and explain the diverse ways of life created by people throughout the world. Fundamental anthropological perspectives include comparison, relativism, holism, and contextualisation. This course will draw on ethnographic examples from many parts of the world and will cover topics such as temporal and spatial orientation, language and symbols, kinship and marriage, gender and sexuality, markets and economic exchange, political relations and power, art, religion, and social personhood.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the course, students are expected to:

• demonstrate an understanding of basic perspectives, concepts and questions in social anthropology, and their relevance to understanding everyday life;
• show an understanding of the relationship between concepts and ethnographic description in social anthropology;
• demonstrate an ability to find, evaluate and use sources of information that are relevant to social anthropology and human life;
• demonstrate that they can write an essay that draws on sources of information that are relevant to social anthropology; and
• demonstrate general reading and writing skills at an appropriate level.

Course Personnel

​Lectures

Tuesdays 1-2pm, Fisher and Paykel Applicances Auditorium, Owen G Glenn Building

Thursdays 1-2pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Human Sciences Building

Tutorials

Students must enroll in, and attend, a tutorial. Tutorials meet for one hour each week.

Textbook

The required textbook for this course is Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology (2nd edition) by Carol Delaney, with Deborah Kaspin (Malden, Wiley-Blackwell, 2011).

Copies of this textbook are available for purchase at the University Bookshop in the Kate Edge Centre at 2 Alfred Street.

Assessment