2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences55:Cultural Anthropology
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Maho Isono
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S446
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Cultural anthropology is the study of observing and contextualizing what is commonly accepted in everyday life. This lecture will present the fundamental principles of cultural anthropology, beginning with the body as a universally possessed object, in order to provide this perspective. The objective of this course is to comprehend and experience the fundamental concept of cultural anthropology, which is relativization, through various topics.
Course description and aims
To identify and contextualize common knowledge about the body.
To understand and express how society affects your body.
Keywords
Self, body, risk, encounter
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The process of making one's own discoveries is valued through lectures and discussions.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Encounters: What is Cultural Anthropology? | Reflect on the most interesting lecture you have attended and consider why it stood out to you. |
| Class 2 | Eating: What does it mean to eat normally? | Reflect on your eating habits throughout your life. |
| Class 3 | Body modifications: From Diet to Beard Removal | Consider the attention you have given to your physical well-being throughout your life, including personal grooming, exercise habits, and dietary choices. |
| Class 4 | Self: What is "being myself"? | Think about when you have encountered the term "being yourelf" and how you have felt about it. |
| Class 5 | Risk: Is it possible to be "rightly afraid"? | If it is possible for you to be "rightly afraid" of something, consider under what conditions you can say so. |
| Class 6 | Crisis - Thinking about Covid-19 crises in Japanese contest. | Think about how you have felt about the Covid-19 crisis that has been going on for about three years. |
| Class 7 | Conclusion - Based on students' reaction papers, elaborate your anthropological ideas. | Reflect on the assignments submitted so far and identify your own areas of interest. |
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 textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Reading materials will be distributed as needed during the course.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reading materials will be distributed as needed during the course.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Grading will be based on completing small assignments for each class (50%) and participating in discussions (50%).
Related courses
- LAH.H103 ： Cultural Anthropology A
- LAH.H203 ： Cultural Anthropology B
- LAH.H303 ： Cultural Anthropology C
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course. The instructor expects active student participation.
Other
Depending on the number of students and their level of understanding, the syllabus can be modified.