2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Cultural Anthropology B
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Zhao Chen
- Class Format
- Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Mon (WL2-201(W621)) / 1-2 Thu (WL2-201(W621))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.H203
- Number of credits
- 020
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course will cover classical studies as well as the latest trends in cultural anthropology. After introducing the basic stance and methodology of cultural anthropology, the perspectives of cultural anthropology will be introduced according to each theme. By dealing with themes closely related to current daily life and cultural anthropological research related to natural sciences, the course will provide students with an opportunity to reconsider their own field of specialization from a different angle.
Human beings are now in a situation where they need to rethink their own lives due to the progress they have made (science, technology, capitalism, etc.). As the recent problems surrounding the practical application of generative AI suggest, to live in the society of the future, it is necessary to have a broad perspective, regardless of the fields of science and the humanities. This course offers students the opportunity to develop a "broad perspective".
Course description and aims
(1) Acquire the basic ideas of cultural anthropology and the basic stance of cross-cultural understanding
(2) Become to reconsider the "norm" and "common sense" around you
(3) Acquire a perspective that transcends the fields of science and humanities
Keywords
Kinship, Marriage, Gender/Sexuality, Design, Landscape, Science and Technology
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
After each lesson, students will be asked to write a reaction paper (comments and questions). At the beginning of each lesson, replies will be made to the previous reaction paper. One of the lessons will be conducted in workshop style. It will either be an ethnographic film viewing or a discussion on a specific topic depending on students' interests.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Invitation to Cultural Anthropology |
Guidance |
| Class 2 | Methods of Cultural Anthropology |
Formation of Cultural Anthropology, Fieldwork and Ethnography |
| Class 3 | Cross-cultural understanding |
Language and cognition, possibilities and limitations of translation |
| Class 4 | Family |
Diversity of families, kinship, kinship groups |
| Class 5 | Marriage and Reproduction |
Different kinds of marriage, reproductive theory, reproductive technology |
| Class 6 | Gender and sexuality |
Between or beside masculinity and femininity |
| Class 7 | Landscape and Environment |
The anthropology of landscape |
| Class 8 | Science and Technology |
Relationship between science/ technology and Society, constructivism |
| Class 9 | Design |
Relationship between design and culture/society, Design Anthropology |
| Class 10 | Environmental Problems and Landscape Architecture |
How to solve environmental problems through design |
| Class 11 | Visual Anthropology |
Interaction between the act of filming and the act of observation |
| Class 12 | Screening/Discussion |
Either watch an ethnographic film or have a general discussion |
| Class 13 | Body |
Techniques of the body, tacit knowledge, learning by doing |
| Class 14 | Disease, culture, and society |
Illness and treatment methods in different societies and cultures |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to course material.
Textbook(s)
No specific textbooks will be used
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference materials will be suggested in advance
Evaluation methods and criteria
Class participation 30%, reaction paper after class 30%, final report 40%.
Related courses
- LAH.H103 ： Cultural Anthropology A
- LAH.H303 ： Cultural Anthropology C
Prerequisites
There is no knowledge or skill to be acquired in advance, but students are expected to actively participate in the class