1 Course Description Anthropology is oen assumed to be something that happens “over there” or among exotic “Others,” but American anthropologists have long conducted research within the United States, applying ethnographic methods to the study of American communities, churches, workplaces, hospitals, and other areas. Despite this focus, however, no clear “school” of U.S. anthropology has emerged. is course examines both the breadth of anthropological research in the United States and the potential significance of an anthropology of the United States. We begin by examining the history of anthropological concerns with U.S. populations, critically exploring the origins of the distinction between the Anthropology of the U.S. and the Anthropology of Native America. We will then examine the relationship between anthropological research in the United States and broader disciplinary concerns with difference, authenticity, reflexivity, and the possibilities of “native ethnography.” e main portion of the class will be jointly constructed with students; together, we will identify and examine central aspects of politics, identity, and experience that shape everyday life in the United States. Student Learning Outcomes By the end of the class, students should be able to: ✦Apply an anthropological approach to the analysis of contemporary U.S. social issues. ✦Critically analyze ethnographic research on and representations of life in the United States. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE SPRING 2016 Anthropology of the United States ANTHRO 169 (60460) TIME & LOCATION M/W/F 1:00pm-1:50pm Room: SSL 270 PROFESSOR INFO Angela C. Jenks, Ph.D. Office: SBSG 3304 Email: [email protected]Phone: 949-824-3188 Office hours: Wed 2:30-4:30pm or by appointment COURSE WEBSITE Information for this course can be found through the EEE system at: https:// eee.uci.edu/16s/60460 e course website includes links to readings, assignment information, lecture slides and handouts, discussion forums, and information about campus resources. Image credit: Inside the Statue of Liberty crown; Patrick Shyu; http://www.flickr.com/photos/19650786@N04/4994415542
Transcript
1
Course Description
Anthropology is oen assumed to be something that happens “over there” or among exotic “Others,” but American anthropologists have long conducted research within the United States, applying ethnographic methods to the study of American communities, churches, workplaces, hospitals, and other areas. Despite this focus, however, no clear “school” of U.S. anthropology has emerged.
is course examines both the breadth of anthropological research in the United States and the potential significance of an anthropology of the United States.
We begin by examining the history of anthropological concerns with U.S. populations, critically exploring the origins of the distinction between the Anthropology of the U.S. and the Anthropology of Native
America. We will then examine the relationship between anthropological research in the United States and broader disciplinary concerns with difference, authenticity, reflexivity, and the possibilities of “native ethnography.” e main portion of the class will be jointly constructed with students; together, we will identify and examine central aspects of politics, identity, and experience that shape everyday life in the United States.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the class, students should be able to: ✦Apply an anthropological
approach to the analysis of contemporary U.S. social issues.
✦Critically analyze ethnographic research on and representations of life in the United States.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE SPRING 2016
Anthropology of the United States
ANTHRO 169 (60460)
TIME & LOCATION
M/W/F 1:00pm-1:50pmRoom: SSL 270
PROFESSOR INFO
Angela C. Jenks, Ph.D.
Office: SBSG 3304Email: [email protected]: 949-824-3188Office hours: Wed 2:30-4:30pm or by appointment
COURSE WEBSITE
Information for this course can be found through the EEE system at: https://eee.uci.edu/16s/60460
e course website includes links to readings, assignment information, lecture slides and handouts, discussion forums, and information about campus resources.
Image credit: Inside the Statue of Liberty crown; Patrick Shyu; http://www.flickr.com/photos/19650786@N04/4994415542
e weekly class sessions are a main source of learning for the course. Please arrive to class on time and plan to stay for the entire session.
ere will be multiple activities throughout the quarter that are designed to give you an opportunity to apply the concepts we have been learning in class. ese may include quizzes, short reflections, film viewing guides, or other activities. No make-up or late activities will be accepted. Missing more than one activity will have a negative effect on your grade in the class.
Ethnographic Journal (25% of grade) is assignment gives you the opportunity to practice observing and describing social life in the United States and to develop an ethnographic sensibility.
A series of specific observational, reflective, and writing activities will be assigned throughout the course. ey will be collected at four (4) intervals listed on the course calendar.
We will discuss these activities more in class, and specific guidelines and requirements will be posted on the course website.
Midterm & Final Exams (40% of grade)
ere will be one in-class midterm and a final exam. Exams may contain multiple choice, identification, short answer, and essay questions. You will receive a study guide one week before each exam.
Make-up and late exams will only be accepted in extraordinary (and well documented) situations.
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2009URBAN ANTHROPOLOGY FALL 2013ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES SPRING 2016
Course Requirements
e idea of the “melting pot” has been a dominant metaphor for the assimilation and “Americanization” of U.S. immigrants since the early 20th century.
3
Ethnography Review (25% of grade)
Choose one book-length ethnography on any topic related to an “Anthropology of the United States” and write a 1,000 word (~4 page) critical review and analysis. is is not simply a summary—think about the theoretical arguments and ethnographic methods of the book, it’s historical context, the author’s background, reactions and reviews (either from within anthropology or outside), the style of presentation, and your own interpretations and reactions.
Many ethnographies of life in the United States have been written in the last century. You may choose any ethnography that interests you, but must have your selection approved by the professor. Suggestions for books on various topics of interest will
be posted on the course discussion board.
Complete the project in two stages:1. Proposal (10 points): Write a
1-paragraph (~150 words) description of your topic, identifying your chosen ethnography and its central themes.
2. Review (90 points): Write a 1,000 word (~4 double-spaced pages) review and analysis of this ethnography.
is project will be discussed more during class sessions and a grading rubric will be posted on the course website. For further assistance, the UCI Writing Center offers online and drop-in peer consultations for students at any stage of the writing process.
GRADING
LECTURE ACTIVITIES 40 PTS
ETHNOGRAPHIC JOURNAL 100 PTS
MIDTERM EXAM 80 PTS
FINAL EXAM 80 PTS
ETHNOGRAPHY REVIEW
Selection 10 PTSReview 90 PTS
TOTAL 400 PTS
GRADING SCALE (PTS)
A ≥ 374 A- ≥ 360B+ ≥ 346 B ≥ 334 B- ≥ 320C+ ≥ 306 C ≥ 294 C- ≥ 280D+ ≥ 266 D ≥ 254 D- ≥ 240F ≤ 240
To speak in person, come to my office hours or make an appointment. Otherwise, email ([email protected]) is generally the best way to contact me. During the week (M-F), I aim to respond to messages within 48 hours. Please remember to include the name of the course in the subject line and your full name in your message.
I missed class. What should I
do?
You are responsible for all material covered in class. Lecture activities cannot be made up, although missing one activity will not have an effect on your grade. If you must miss a class session, check the course website to access any handouts and presentation slides, and ask another student for a copy of the notes.
Can I use my phone or laptop
in class?
Electronic devices are useful tools but oen distract from learning. Make sure your cell phones are silenced and put away during class. You may use a laptop/tablet in class, but only to take notes or access class materials like lecture slides. You may be asked to put your laptop/tablet away during some classes. Please also come prepared with a pen and paper.
What if I need an
accommodation because of a
disability?
e UCI Disability Services Center ensures access to educational programs and resources for all students. If you believe you need an accommodation because of the impact of a disability, please contact them at 949-824-7494 or visit http://disability.uci.edu/.
Can I turn a paper in late or
take a make-up exam?
Make-up or late exams will only be accepted in extraordinary and well-documented situations. Other assignments (journals and your ethnography review) will lose 5 points a day for each day of lateness.
I think my grade is incorrect.
What should I do?
If you believe there is a mathematical error in the calculation of your grade, please email the professor. Requests for a regrade should be submitted in writing within 48 hours of receipt of your grade. Please provide your original graded assignment and a detailed written explanation of how you believe your work meets the requirements of the assignment/rubric.
What is the course policy
regarding plagiarism and
academic honesty?
Learning in this class depends on you completing all required assignments yourself. Violations of academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) will result in no credit for the assignment, course failure, and/or referral for disciplinary action. If you are unfamiliar with UCI’s policies on academic integrity, please go to http://www.editor.uci.edu/catalogue/appx/appx.2.htm
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2009URBAN ANTHROPOLOGY FALL 2013ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES SPRING 2016
Week 1Introduction to the Course: What is “Anthropology of the US”?
Mon, 3/28
No readings.Week 1Introduction to the Course: What is “Anthropology of the US”?
Wed, 3/30
Linton, Ralph. 1937. “One Hundred Per-Cent American.” e American Mercury 40:427-429.
Sapir, Edward. 1916. “Culture in the Melting Pot.” (edited and introduced by Alex Golub)
Week 1Introduction to the Course: What is “Anthropology of the US”?
Fri, 4/1
Marcus, George E. 1999. “How Anthropological Curiosity Consumes Its Own Places of Origin”. Cultural Anthropology 14(3):416-422.
Week 2Insiders and Outsiders: Anthropologists, Others, & Native Ethnography
Mon, 4/4
Trouillot, Michel-Rolph. 1991. “Anthropology and the Savage Slot: e Poetics and Politics of Otherness.” Pg. 17-44 in Recapturing Anthropology, edited by Richard G. Fox.
Starn, Orin. 2011. “Here Come the Anthros (Again): e Strange Marriage of Anthropology and Native America”. Cultural Anthropology 26(2):179-204.
Week 2Insiders and Outsiders: Anthropologists, Others, & Native Ethnography
Wed, 4/6
Passaro, Joanne. 1997. “‘You Can’t Take the Subway to the Field!’: ‘Village’ Epistemologies in the Global Village.” Pg. 147-162 in Anthropological Locations, edited by Akhil Gupta and James Ferguson.
Narayan, Kirin. 1993. “How Native Is a ‘Native’ Anthropologist?” American Anthropologist 95(3): 671-686.
Week 2Insiders and Outsiders: Anthropologists, Others, & Native Ethnography
Fri, 4/8
Myerhoff, Barbara. 1980. Number Our Days. Excerpt. Syllabus quiz (EEE)
Week 3Who is an American?: Immigration, Assimilation, and Contested Norms
Mon, 4/11
Gonzalez, Roberto and Leo Chavez. 2012. “Awakening to a Nightmare.” Current Anthropology 53(3):255-281.
Week 3Who is an American?: Immigration, Assimilation, and Contested Norms
Wed, 4/13
Kibria, Nazli. 1999. “College and Notions of ‘Asian American’: Second-Generation Chinese and Korean Americans Negotiate Race and Identity.” Amerasia Journal 25(1):29-51.
Week 3Who is an American?: Immigration, Assimilation, and Contested Norms
Fri, 4/15
Perry, Pamela. 2001. “White Means Never Having to Say You’re Ethnic: White Youth and the Construction of ‘Cultureless’ Identities”. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography 30(1):56-91.
Journal 1 due
Course Schedule & Assignments (Changes to this schedule may be made as necessary).
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TOPIC DATE WHAT TO READ WHAT’S DUE?
Week 4American Popular Cultures
Mon, 4/18
Fiske, John. 1989. “e Jeaning of America.” Pg. 1-21 in Understanding Popular Culture. New York: Routledge.
Week 4American Popular Cultures
Wed, 4/20
Foley, Douglas E. 1990. “The Great American Football Ritual: Reproducing Race, Class, and Gender Inequality.” Sociology of Sport Journal 7(2):11-135.
Week 4American Popular Cultures
Fri, 4/22
Lipsitz, George. 1994. “‘Ain’t Nobody Here but Us Chickens’: e Class Origins of Rock and Roll.” In Rainbow at Midnight: Labor and Culture in the 1940s.
Week 5Media and Power
Mon, 4/25
Herman, Edward S. and Noam Chomsky. 1988. Manufacturing Consent: e Political Economy of the Mass Media. Excerpt.
Week 5Media and Power
Wed, 4/27
boyd, danah. 2007. “Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites: e Role of Networked Publics in Teenage Social Life.” MacArthur Foundation Series on Digital Learning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Week 5Media and Power
Fri, 4/29
No readings: Catch up and review. Journal 2 due
Ethnography selection due
Week 6Kinship and Family
Mon, 5/2
Midterm Exam in class Midterm examWeek 6Kinship and Family
Wed, 5/4
Angier Natalie. 2013. “e Changing American Family.” New York Times, November 25.
Week 6Kinship and Family
Fri, 5/6
Toby Alice Volkman. 2005. “Embodying Chinese Culture: Transnational Adoption in North America.” Pg. 81-113 in Cultures of Transnational Adoption. T.A. Volkman, ed.
Week 7Making a Living: Economics, Work, and Identity
Mon, 5/9
Lane, Carrie. 2011. A Company of One. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. [Excerpt]
Graeber, David. 2013. “On the Phenomenon of Bullsh*t Jobs.” Strike, August 17.
Week 7Making a Living: Economics, Work, and Identity
Wed, 5/11
Nagle, Robin. 2013. Picking Up: On the Streets and Behind the Trucks with the Sanitation Workers of New York City. [Excerpt]
Week 7Making a Living: Economics, Work, and Identity
Fri, 5/13
Bourgois, Philippe. “Office Work and the Crack Alternative Among Puerto Rican Drug Dealers in East Harlem.” Pg. 418-431 in Urban Life. George Gmelch and Walter Zenner, eds.
Journal 3 due
Course Schedule & Assignments, cont. (Changes to this schedule may be made as necessary).
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TOPIC WHAT TO READ WHAT’S DUE?
Week 8e Politics of Place
Mon, 5/16
Jackson, Kenneth. 1985. Crabgrass Frontier: e Suburbanization of the United States. [Excerpt]
Week 8e Politics of Place
Wed, 5/18
Stout, Noelle. 2016. “#Indebted: Disciplining the Moral Valence of Mortgage Debt Online.” Cultural Anthropology 31(1): 82-106.
Week 8e Politics of Place
Fri, 5/20
Soja, Edward. “Inside Exopolis: Scenes from Orange County.” Pg. 94-122 in Variations on a eme Park. Sorkin, ed.
Week 9Law, Security, and Militarization
Mon, 5/23
Gilmore, Ruth Wilson. 1998/99. “Globalisation and US Prison Growth: From Military Keynesianism to post-Keynesian Militarism.” Race & Class 40(2/3): 171-188.
Seelye, Katharine Q. 2015. “In Heroin Crisis, White Families Seek Gentler War on Drugs.” New York Times, October 30.
Week 9Law, Security, and Militarization
Wed, 5/25
Listen:Furmage and Rubin. 2015. “#BlackLivesMatter: Anthropologists on Protest, Policing and Race-Based Violence.” AnthroPod.
Week 9Law, Security, and Militarization
Fri, 5/27
Doukas, Dimitra. 2012. “Targeting the Gun Question: e ‘Culture War’ in Scope.” Anthropology Now 2(3): 19-30.
Gusterson, Hugh. 2013. “Making a Killing.” Anthropology Today 29(1): 1-2.
Journal 4 due
Week 10Globalization and Empire: e U.S. Abroad
Mon, 5/30
NO CLASS: Memorial DayWeek 10Globalization and Empire: e U.S. Abroad
Wed, 6/1
Lutz, Catherine. 2008. “Empire is in the Details.” American Ethnologist 33(4): 593-611.
Week 10Globalization and Empire: e U.S. Abroad
Fri, 6/3
Watters, Ethan. 2010. “e Americanization of Mental Illness.” New York Times Magazine.
Ethno-graphy Review due
Final Exam Wednesday, June 8, 1:30-3:30pmWednesday, June 8, 1:30-3:30pm
Course Schedule and Assignments (Changes to this schedule may be made as necessary).
ANTHROPOLOGY OF BIOMEDICINE & BIOTECHNOLOGY WINTER 2014ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES SPRING 2016
