Anthropology 323

In this course we think together critically about everyday life and about how we make and use ordinary objects and "texts" such as films, web sites, youtube, TV, fashion, music - or just everyday conversation. The tools we'll use are important concepts drawn from recent and contemporary social theory.
Images: Social theorist Pierre Bourdieu; a red shoe

Think of this course as a means to learn those concepts through examples - mostly familiar rather than spectacular - from ordinary life, fantasy, and culture. In the end, if I do my job right, you will take with you an intellectual tool kit for understanding the world around you from a broader and deeper perspective than when you came.

Prof. Ivan Kalmar

Theories of culture and society, with examples from ordinary life and fantasy and their popular expressions.
Much of our material comes non-elite (i.e. "popular ") culture, some from high culture, and a lot from somewhere that doesn't fit into such categories.
The examples we draw on may be images, media, writing, music, conversation &c &c

Image: Observing conversation

Do one of these things and you will get a 0 for the assignment or the whole course, or receive even worse punishment from the Office of Academic Integrity: cheat at tests, plagiarize your essays, submit an essay without first doing an essay proposal, or never show up at a tutorial.

Image: Lucas Cranach the Elder , "Adam and Eve," 1538, Národní galerie, Sternberg Palace, Prague.

Q. I am doing a book review essay. Is the book I am reviewing one of my references that I will discuss in the source analysis?

A. No. The book you are reviewing is not one of your references for this purpose. You need to relate your other references to your thesis, and of course your thesis relates in turn to the book you are reviewing.