Anthropology

In your research, I want you to list four factors: Historically, when did such a practice begin? In what societies is this practice most prevalent in, and do they still practice it today? Why would a society decide to practice such acts if it goes against the cultural universal of morality? If Western societies find a practice immoral, why would others not feel the same way? How do cultural anthropologists use cultural relativism to look past these practices, without judging these societies, when conducting fieldwork?

Write a 300-500 word Precis or reaction paper to the reading/documentary. This is not just a summary of the reading/documentary. Discuss important points and concepts in the reading/documentary. What did you learn? What concepts are you struggling with? End with 2 questions that you would like to discuss.   https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Precis

Liminal spaces how are they uncertain and ambiguous

• Is the Durkheimian idea of solidarity useful?Lecture Recording: https://soas.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=43915355-27a1-4d59-bb4e-ab3b0095bf8aDURKHEIM AND MAUSS Solidarity, social cohesion, sociology as a science.Essential Reading:Durkheim, E. Elementary forms of the religious life Chapter “The origin of these beliefs, end” pp 214-239 (begin from III the bottom of 214.) https://archive.org/details/elementaryformso00durk/page/214 Mauss, M. The gift: forms and functions of exchange in archaic societies Chapter “Introductory: gifts and return gifts” pp. 1-5 (read more if you feel inspired). https://libcom.org/files/Mauss%20-%20The%20Gift.pdf Banerjee, M. ‘Sacred Elections’. Economic and Political Weekly, 42(17), 1556-1562. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4419523?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents Further reading N.B. See the power point slides (on the moodle) for annotated suggestions on further readings by Durkheim and Mauss and additional suggestions for further reading). M. Fournier. Marcel Mauss: a biography.  A. Giddens. Capitalism and Modern Social Theory. (The section on Durkheim obviously.) S. Lukes, Emile Durkheim. (Introduction is esp. useful).Hart, K. Marcel Mauss our guide to the future. (useful biographical essay on Mauss and the anée sociologique, to be found at: http://thememorybank.co.uk/2007/03/20/marcel-mauss-our-guide-to-the-future/)• How does one take power in an advanced capitalist society? Lecture recording: Liberal and Marxist theories of imperialism Essential Reading: V. I. Lenin. Imperialism: the highest stage of capitalism: a popular outline. Chapter VI. ‘The division of the world among the great powers’  https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch06.htm  R. Luxemburg. The Accumulation of Capital – Chapter 27. ‘The struggle against a natural economy’. https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch06.htm  Some interesting contemporary thinkers who had similar ideas:Du Bois, W.E.B. The African roots of War http://www.webdubois.org/dbAfricanRWar.html Padmore, G. The British Empire Is Worst Racket Yet Invented By Man https://www.marxists.org/archive/padmore/1939/worst-racket.htm

Based on sections 6 and 7 of the documentary, Slum Cities, explain how you would use qualitative research methods to explore the informal economy of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas (slums).  Slum Cities (46:00 min) This video is available via ‘Films on Demand’ through the Stafford Library.  Sections 6 and 7 of the documentary Slum Cities explore the slums of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. Particular attention is given to the informal economy prevalent in these slums.

This 10- page long assignment (double-spaced, not counting the title and/or the cover page) should use either a narrative or an ethnographic approach to qualitative research. The fundamental question your essay should address is: Why do people have a habit of coming to this particular place, as opposed to another one? What do they do there, and how is this place meaningful to them? Although both narrative research and ethnography explore people’s experience with the place you selected, they do it in different ways: Narrative research: you will want to explore the experience and identity of a few individuals as it relates to their use of that place. Ethnography: you will want to describe and analyze the behavior, language, and general interaction of people at that place. The proposal should include (with separate headings): A research statement This should include a short description of the place you chose, a central research question, a discussion of the main assumptions associated with the proposed research, and a statement about why this research is significant in the field of sociology, psychology, and/or anthropology. Feel free to use elements of your first essay for this section of your proposal (make sure to take my feedback and comments into account!). This section of your proposal should be about 2 pages long. A literature review This should not only discusses the contribution of three peer-reviewed works to your research, but also the methodological strategy(ies) used by each author. Feel free to use elements of your second essay for this section of your proposal (make sure to take my comments into account!). This section of your proposal should be about 3 pages long. A comprehensive methodological section In this section you should explain, based on what you learned in this course, how you will go about answering your central research question. This section will vary depending on whether you choose to conduct a narrative or an ethnographic study. You need to describe and explain who you intend to meet and how, the interview questions you will ask, the observations you will make (when, and how) and the participant observation strategies you intend to use. In short, you need to explain how you will collect qualitative data and how you intend to analyze it. This section of your proposal should be 4 pages long. An interview guide This should list ten questions you would like to ask your informants. You should also provide an explanation of why you chose these questions and how you ordered them. Use sections 8-9 of the documentary Doing Sociological Research to build your interview guide. For example, start with general questions and proceed to more specific ones. Also, use open-ended questions (questions that cannot be answered by ‘yes’ or ‘no’) in order to encourage interviewees to share as much information as possible. This section of your proposal should be 1 page long.

Below are (2) articles and (2) videos both having to do with religions that are considered ‘fringe’ religions in comparison to the dominant Catholic/Christian denominations in each respective country. Write a 3 page response paper in which you discuss the following: the roots/origins of each belief system the reasons why people are drawn to each system which microcultures feature most prominently within these systems how these religions are a response to the social conditions of their society the challenges practitioners must face Tucker, Duncan “Santa Muerte: the Rise of Mexico’s Death ‘Saint’” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41804243 “Brazilian Believers of Hidden Religion Step Out of the Shadows” https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/09/16/216890587/brazilian-believers-of-hidden-religion-step-out-of-shadows

Find a ted talk covering a subject related to language and culture/society. It can be about language and changing demographics, language acquisition, the nature of sign language there are literally thousands of talks and podcasts to choose from. Write a 1-2 page paper connecting the topic of the talk/podcast to concepts we have learned about in class. In what ways do you understand this talk/podcast differently because of what we have learned about this semester? Justify your answer using (citing) readings, module content and lecture material.

1. Pick Your Profession Data Entry Operator Seamstress Pianist Driver of Construction Machinery Painter Software Engineer 2. The Power Point Presentation consists of 5 slides. You can alternative produce a tictoc movie with the same content. 1 slide that discusses the general demands of the chosen profession; 1 slide that discusses the effects on the skeleton (bones and teeth); 1 slide discusses the causes for the effects on the skeleton with images and/or data. 1 slide discusses prevention that can be taken to prevent health hazards. The final slide lists all references used in APA style.,

All healers must learn their craft, and all healers must have verifiable outcomes (healed patients) as a result of their treatments. Medical Anthropologists study a wide variety of healers from diverse cultural settings. As you are aware, each culture has very unique definitions of illness and disease, as well as different expectations for being healed. As a result of these factors, we find very different techniques used for healing in these two broad categories of healers, indigenous, and biomedical. Yet even with the profound cultural differences, there are similarities in training and patient relationships between the two groups. Discuss what are the similarities and/or differences found in training between indigenous healers and biomedical healers? Furthermore, what are the similarities and/or differences in patient healer relationships? If for some reason you are fascinated by one group’s training or healing process/procedures, either positive or negative, you may focus upon that one group. Or you may wish to focus your attention upon healer client relationships and its effect upon outcomes (patient healing), that is also acceptable. This likely a very good place to use examples from the “Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down”. I would like to see a discussion page that reflects a common theme and a diversity of interest! You will not be penalized for creative thought as long as you are grounded in the information from the course readings, lectures, and views (videos) or additional research. Finally, provide specific examples from readings, lectures, and views (videos) for each of your discussion points. You may wish to expand your knowledge base beyond the assigned sources by poking around the internet but it is not required.