ANTH 380/Traditional Cultures*
Fall 2005/ Minnesota State University Moorhead
T 6:30-9:00 PM, LO 098

Instructor: Dr. Bruce D. Roberts
Office: LO102F; Telephone: 477-2043
Office hours M, W 12:00 Noon – 4PM; T, H 3:30-4:30 PM and by appointment.
E mail: robertsb@mnstate.edu; Class web site http://www.mnstate.edu/robertsb/380

This course will intensively examine fundamental aspects of non industrial/non western cultures prior to widespread modernization and culture change. Elements to be addressed include kinship and domestic organization, adaptive/subsistence patterns, economic production and exchange; political organization and social control; and religious systems. While generalizing about traditional cultures, we will investigate these topics through specific ethnographic examples selected from diverse parts of the globe. Additionally, although the emphasis in this course is on the “traditional” it will be both impossible and undesirable to avoid consideration of culture change and “modernization” in these societies. This examination of the contemporary situation is essential to preclude what I refer to as the “National Geographic naked savages frozen in time” view.

Required Texts

Chagnon, Napoleon
1997 The Yanomamo. 5th edition. Thomson-Wadsworth. ISBN 0155053272

King, Glenn E.
2003 Traditional Cultures: A Survey of Nonwestern Experience and Achievement. Waveland Press. ISBN 1 57766 203 2

Lee, Richard B.
2002 The Dobe Ju/'hoansi. 3rd edition. Thomson-Wadsworth. ISBN 0155063332

Weiner, Annette B.
1988 Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea. Thomson-Wadsworth. ISBN 0030119197

*Please note that ANTH 110 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - is a prerequisite for this class. If you have not had that class then you may want to reconsider the wisdom of taking this class. I cannot teach both an introductory and advanced class simultaneously.

• Attendance: You're adults, right? It's up to you whether or not you come to class. I don't take attendance and view it as a waste of time. However, occasionally I'll pass around a sheet to see who's being naughty and who's being nice. At the end of the semester if I need an excuse to bump your grade up it will definitely behoove you if your name is on those sheets. Use your discretion.
• Readings: Do the readings before coming to class. Things will make more sense and you'll do better on the quizzes! A word to the wise: the apparent simplicity of King's book, the text, is deceiving. In reality this book is loaded with substantive ethnographic and ethnological knowledge. Don't "misunderestimate"it! Hope that's not too "subliminable" for you. The books by Picchi, Parkin, and Weiner are what we call ethnographies - written accounts of particular cultures. Although they are written for a student audience they are not intended to be "fun" reading. If you think they're "hard, " "dry," or "boring" then come to my office and I'll show you some real professional ethnographies. 


• Exams: There will be three exams each worth 100 points. All exams will be comprised of multiple choice, true-false, and matching questions (about 75-80 points), as well as a short essay on the ethnography assigned for that domain (about 20-25 points). Make-up exams are all essay and given only at my discretion if you present me with a verifiable medical excuse/ proof of extenuating circumstance within 48 hours of the exam.


• Pop quizzes: There will be 5 unannounced pop quizzes, each worth 10 points. Combined they'll account for 12.5% of your grade. Format will be multiple choice and true/false. They will be administered at my discretion at the beginning of class. In the past I have noticed that some people come, take the quiz and then leave at the halftime break. This makes me sad :( So, new policy is this: unless you have a stellar excuse for leaving early you'll need to stay until the end of class in order for me to record your quiz grade. No make-up quizzes will be given.
• Book reviews: You must critically review two (2) of the three ethnographies you’ll read for this class. Each review will be worth 25 points. Guidelines will be provided shortly. Reviews are due in class on the following dates: October 4 (Chagnon); November 3 (Lee); December 10^th (Weiner).  Late reviews will be penalized 5 points per day late.

• Extra Credit: None will be given. Do what you’re supposed to do and you’ll be fine.

• Miscellaneous: I reserve the right to slightly modify the point ranges listed below (upward, but not downward) to benefit people who have put forth exemplary effort.

• “Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 222 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.”