Courses
ANTH 200/204 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (every semester) Profs Falcone, Prins, & Wesch
Cultural Anthropology explores different cultures in all of their manifestations -
from how people make a living to what people live for. In this course, you will learn about the tremendous diversity of people around
the world, how different aspects of culture (such as economics, politics, family structures,
and religion) influence one another, and explore the possibilities and challenges
of our increasingly globalized world. This course will also help you improve your abilities to “think outside the box” by
recognizing your own cultural biases and questioning the assumptions, beliefs, concepts,
and ideas you may have previously taken for granted. There has never been a time when Cultural Anthropology has been more important than
it is right now. Note: ANTH 204 has a recitation, ANTH 200 does not.
ANTH 220 Introduction to Linguistic Anthropology (every semester) Prof Loyd
This course provides a broadly-based entry-level introduction to linguistic anthropology stressing the interactions between language and culture, and between language and social identity. By the end of the course, you should be acquainted with the basics of linguistic analysis, be aware of fundamental similarities and differences among all human languages, and have an informed perspective on issues of language that have an impact on our society. Most importantly, in this class you will acquire the essential tools for learning and analyzing languages in social and cultural contexts, and for understanding the basics of cross-cultural communication.
ANTH 260 Introduction to Archaeology and World Prehistory (every semester) Prof Ritterbush
Archaeology strives to understand past human societies through the systematic study of their material remains. In this course students are introduced to the goals of anthropological archaeology and general methods and approaches to interpreting our human past. Through a survey of past human societies in various parts of the world, students will not only learn about people and cultures of very ancient times, but develop an understanding of how and why humanity developed into the diverse world of today.
ANTH 280 Introduction to Physical Anthropology (every Fall and every other Spring semester) Prof Alfonso Durruty
ANTH 281 Introduction to Physical Anthropology Laboratory (every Fall and every other Spring semester) Prof Alfonso Durruty
ANTH 503 Archaeological Fact or Fiction (every Fall Semester) Prof Ritterbush
Many of us are fascinated by the "mysteries" of our human past, devouring popular literature and news stories about archaeological discoveries and long-held ideas about spatially and temporally "exotic" cultures. How do we evaluate these discoveries and ideas? In this UGE approved course we learn and hone basic critical thinking and research skills through their application to varied claims about the past. Among the topics we explore are the moundbuilder myth, ancient North American inscriptions, Vikings in the Americas, lost civilizations, and advanced prehistoric technology. (ANTH 260 or a demonstrated knowledge of archaeological methods and approaches, as well as major cultural developments through time is prerequisite for this course.)
ANTH 515 Creativity and Culture (every other Spring [even years]) Prof Falcone
"At once a property of individuals and social situations, creativity (not unlike laughter) often erupts at unpredictable times and on unexpected occasions."
This course will take an anthropological approach to the study of art by examining them as forms of embodied and material cultural knowledge that can reveal much about the social worlds in which things are made, as well as the ways that margins are challenged by artists working to make something new. We will explore the construction of representation, aesthetics and artistry in various cultural contexts. Is invention bounded by the genius of an individual, or the limits of a particular cultural milieu? Who decides what is art, and what it should mean? Who gets to define what is authentic, and/or what is innovative?
ANTH 521 Topics in Archaeology: ENGAGED ARCHAEOLOGY (upon sufficient demand) Prof Ritterbush
How do modern people and societies interact with the past? What is the importance of the past for the present? In this seminar and hands-on studio we will analyze public archaeology in the USA and develop means of engaging varied audiences with the past. Local archaeological topics and materials will be explored in an effort to connect the public with archaeology and understanding past societies. (ANTH 260 or comparable introductory archaeology course is prerequisite.)
ANTH 545 Cultures of South Asia (periodic Fall semesters;next taught: Fall 2012) Prof Falcone
This course will provide an interdisciplinary exploration of some of the cultures of the South Asian region. We will examine thematic issues of colonization, religion, nationalism, modernity, sexuality, gender, globalization and social stratification in their various South Asian contexts. By supplementing our scholarly readings about the region with Bollywood films and other popular media, we will trace the cultural, historical and geographic contours of contemporary South Asian societies.
ANTH 570 North American Archaeology (every other Spring semester [odd years]) Prof Ritterbush
This course explores the archaeological evidence of native peoples of North America prior to European contact. The archaeology of various cultures in different parts of North America are studied, including in the Desert West and eastern Woodlands. Throughout the semester we address questions professional archaeologists are addressing through new discoveries and analytical technologies. Among the specific issues we explore are interpreting how, when, and by whom the Americas were first settled; how Puebloan and Hohokam farmers adapted to the diverse environments of the American Southwest and how and why their cultures changed through time; and why did moundbuilding become a major activity of many different groups at different times in the Midwest and Southeastern United States. (ANTH 260 or comparable introductory archaeology course is required for enrollment.)
ANTH 618 Religion in Culture (every Fall Semester [except F11]) Prof Wesch
A romp through the fundamental ideas about anything and everything humankind has entertained in the past 40,000 years (a.k.a. religions and worldviews) and the ideas about those ideas (a.k.a. Anthropological Theory). Our story begins 150 years ago as reports of what seemed to be strange and exotic beliefs, rites, and customs poured in from remote centers of the earth to that little corner of the world known as "The West." Here, a group of men with adventurous minds and idle legs attempted to make sense of these bizarre ideas and rites. They called themselves, "anthropologists." This class tells the story of the anthropologists' 150-year journey from the armchair to the field to engage with the most fundamental beliefs, ideas and ideals of all humankind.
ANTH 630 Indigenous North America (every other Spring semester [even years]) Prof Prins
A survey of indigenous North America,... It includes a focus on the Mi'kmaq Indians of Northeast America.
ANTH 634 Indigenous South America (every other Spring semester [odd years]) Prof Prins
A survey of indigenous South America, this course offers a broad review of the cultural evolution, colonial history, and ethnography of the continent's major culture areas - Andean highlands, Amazonia, Gran Chaco, Pampas, and Tierra del Fuego. In addition to highlighting two specific indigenous nations representative of each culture area, the course discusses the contemporary struggles for cultural survival and human rights.
ANTH 676 European Archaeology (every other Spring semester [even years]) Prof Ritterbush
ANTH 677 Digital Ethnography (every Spring Semester) Prof Wesch
In this class, you will learn how to actually *do* an ethnographic project using, harnessing, and leveraging the always emerging possibilities of digital media. Our most recent project on YouTube was presented at the Library of Congress in June: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAO-lZ4_hU. Check out the last 3 minutes if you want to see how much fun we have in this class! There are many more great videos by students you can view here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mwesch and here: http://mediatedcultures.net Work from this class has been featured on BBC, ABCnews.com, CurrentTV, local ABC and NBC television stations, the Margaret Mead Film Festival, several newspapers and magazines worldwide, and the Chronicle of Higher Education (just to name a few).
ANTH 730 Archaeological Field School (Summer 2012) Prof Logan
This summer class introduces students to archaeological field methods, including basic artifact identification, pedestrian survey, mapping, excavation, and record-keeping, through hands-on training and experience in a field research situation. The research project varies each year, but is commonly in Kansas. Students and faculty live as a group near the site(s) being investigated. Supplementary fees cover room and board during the duration of the field project. Consent of instructor through an application process is required. (Information about the 2010 field school is available.) See our video of the 2010 field school.
Ethnographic Methods (every Fall Semester) Prof Falcone
How does one write about culture? In this course, we will interrogate issues of truth, representation and ethics vis-à-vis ethnography, creative non-fiction, ethnographic fiction. This course will combine theoretical and critical reading on writing cultures with more practical readings on the normative field methods of cultural anthropologists. The course evolves into a writing workshop towards the completion of a final, polished ethnographic product.
Apocalypse, Prophecy and the Future (periodic Fall semesters; next taught: Fall 2012) Prof Falcone
"The future is now."
For the messianic prophet, the inventor, the environmentalist, and so many other individuals and communities, "the future" pervades and shapes the present moment, and vice versa. We will look at distinct notions of time, progress, hope and fear, planning, utopia and dystopia, world-ending and world-renewal from various societies around the world.