David Valentine M/W 9:30-10:45am - Main 806

September 6- December 11, 2000 Office Hours: Monday 11:15am-1:00pm

Phone: 998-8559 email: [email protected]

TA: Steve Albert email: [email protected]

Course Description

This course explores the different ways that symbols and signs can be thought about from an anthropological perspective. We begin by reviewing some of the theoretical approaches to symbols and signs before looking at ethnographic case studies. The focus will be on the relationship between the structural elements of signification, and how people make sense of their everyday worlds through systems of signs. To do so, we will consider the ways that some symbols become validated through systems of social power, and how conflicts over interpretation and meaning can result in profound social changes.

Course Requirements

Your grade will be assigned on the basis of the following formula: paper one (25%), midterm exam (25%), paper two (25%), final exam (25%). Attendance at all lectures is a vital part of the course. Attendance will be taken, and will be considered in assigning your final grade.

Note on Films

The films shown in class are a part of the course, and should be considered as required texts. Exams and quizzes will cover the issues raised in the films.

Assigned Texts

The following books are required for the course and are available at the university bookstore.

Lila Abu-Lughod

1986 Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Douglas, Mary

1992 [1966] Purity and Danger: an analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo. New York: Routledge

Hebdige, Dick

1979 Subculture: the meaning of style. New York: Methuen.

Holston, James

1989 The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasilia. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.

Johnson, Mark

1997 Beauty and power: transgendering and cultural transformation in the Southern Philippines. New York: Berg.

In addition, assigned books and course readings are available at the Bobst reserve library. You can purchase a reading packet from Unique Copy on Greene Street.

September 6

Introduction to the course

September 11

Readings

Saussure, Ferdinand de

1985 The linguistic sign. In Semiotics: an introductory anthology. Robert E. Ennis (ed.) pp28-46. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

September 13

Readings

Peirce, Charles S.

1985 Logic as semiotics: the theory of signs. In Semiotics: an introductory anthology. Robert E. Ennis (ed.) pp.4-23. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

September 18

Readings

Geertz, Clifford

1973 Thick Description: Toward an interpretive theory of culture. in The interpretation of cultures. pp. 3-30. New York: Basic Books.

September 20

Readings

Lakoff, G. and Z. Kovecses

1987 The cognitive model of anger inherant in American English. In Cultural models in language and thought. D. Holland and N. Quinn (eds). Pp. 195-222. New York: Cambridge University Press.

September 25

Readings

Douglas, Mary

1992 [1966] Purity and Danger: an analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo. New York: Routledge (Introduction, chapters 1-2)

September 27

Readings PAPER 1 DUE IN CLASS

Douglas (chapters 7-8)

October 2

Readings

Douglas (chapter 9)

Turner, Victor

1967 The forest of symbols: aspects of Ndembu ritual. Ithaca: Cornell University Press (chapter I).

October 4

Readings

Turner, Victor (chapters II, IV)

October 9

Readings

Hebdige, Dick

1979 Subculture: the meaning of style. New York: Methuen. (Introduction, chapters 1-4)

October 11

Readings

Hebdige, Dick (chapters 5-8)

October 16

Readings

Hebdige, Dick (chapter 9, Conclusion)

October 18 FILM: Paris is Burning

Readings

Goldstein, Judith

1993 The female aesthetic community. Poetics Today 14(1):143-

October 23

Readings MIDTERM PAPER DUE IN CLASS

Johnson, Mark

1997 Beauty and power: transgendering and cultural transformation in the Southern Philippines. New York: Berg. (Introduction, chapter 1)

October 25

Readings

Johnson, Mark (chapters 2-3)

October 30

Readings

Johnson, Mark (chapters 4-5)

November 1

Readings

Johnson, Mark (chapters 6-7)

November 6

Readings

Lila Abu-Lughod

1986 Veiled Sentiments: Honor and Poetry in a Bedouin Society. Berkeley: University of California Press. (chapters 1-2)

November 8

Readings

Abu-Lughod (chapters 3-4)

November 13

Readings

Abu-Lughod (chapters 5-6)

November 15

Readings

Abu-Lughod (chapter 7-8)

November 20

Readings PAPER 3 DUE IN CLASS

Holston, James

1989 The Modernist City: An Anthropological Critique of Brasilia. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press. (Introduction, chapters 1-2)

November 22 - Thanksgiving Recess

November 27

Readings

Holston (chapters 3-4)

November 29

Readings

Holston (chapters 5-6)

December 4

Readings

Holston (chapters 7-8)

December 6

Course Review

December 11 FINAL EXAM DUE IN CLASS