2025 (Current Year) 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)
- Maho Isono
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.H203
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This is an introductory lecture on cultural anthropology.Students will learn the basics of cultural anthropology, including the definition of culture, the importance of studying culture, and the diversity of worldviews and perspectives across cultures. These concepts will be explored through small-group discussions, allowing students to draw on their own experiences.
The objective of this course is to expand students' understanding of the diversity and intricacy of human cultural and social life from an anthropological perspective, and to improve their communication skills in the context of diverse values. Lectures will be conducted in a participatory format, encouraging students to engage in discussion.
Course description and aims
(1) Gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts of cultural anthropology and the importance of cross-cultural comprehension.
(2) Begin to question the norms and common sense around you.
(3) Develop an interdisciplinary perspective.
Keywords
culture, language,economics, politics, and family
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Use a lecture format, interspersed with student discussion
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction to Anthropology | Describe the basic perspectives and ideas of cultural anthropology |
| Class 2 | Culture | Define culture and the six characteristics of culture |
| Class 3 | Language | ・Explain the relathionship between human language and culture ・Evaluate the reasons why language change and efforts that can be made to preserve endangered languages |
| Class 4 | Religion | ・Define religion and explain its sisgnificance in human cultures ・Identify the four elements of religion ・Define rites of passage and its purpose |
| Class 5 | Group work (1) | Create a page-a-day calendar based on the cultural anthropology tips learned in Lectures 1-4. |
| Class 6 | Subsistence | ・Identify the four modes of subsistence and describe the major activities associated with obtaining food in each system. ・Categorize the social and economic characteristics associated with agriculture and describe the benefits and drawbacks of the agricultural subsistence system. |
| Class 7 | Economics | Describe the characteristics of the three modes of production. Describe the characteristics of reciprocity |
| Class 8 | Politics | Identify the four-level of socio-cultural integration. Assess the benefits and problems associated with state-level political organization |
| Class 9 | Group work (2) | Create a page-a-day calendar based on the cultural anthropology tips learned in Lectures 5-9. |
| Class 10 | Family and Marriage | Describe the variety of human families cross-culturally with examples. |
| Class 11 | Race and Ethnicity | Define the term reification and explain how the concept of race has been reified throughout history. Explain why a biological basis for human race categories does not exist. |
| Class 12 | Gender and Sexuality | Identify the ways in which culture shapes sex/gender, and sexuality. |
| Class 13 | Group work (3) | Create a page-a-day calendar based on the cultural anthropology tips learned in the lectures so far and complete its final version. |
| Class 14 | Presentation | Prepare to present the calender. |
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)
Perspectives: An Open Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Nina Brown （https://perspectives.americananthro.org/)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None in particular. Materials will be distributed as required during the lecture.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Based on the cultural anthropology tips from the lectures, create a page-a-day calendar for one month.The assessment will focus on the thought process that led to the final draft, rather than the completion of the calendar itself. To ensure a fair evaluation of each group member's contribution, each member will be required to submit an evaluation sheet separately.
Related courses
- LAH.H103 ： Cultural Anthropology A
- LAH.H303 ： Cultural Anthropology C
- LAH.S446 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences55:Cultural Anthropology
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course. The instructor expects active student participation.
Other
The syllabus may be subject to changes based on the lecture's progress and the students' comprehension.