Academics

Anthropology

 

Carol Hendrickson

Anthropology is the study of humankind, of all people—ancient and modern—their beliefs and ways of life. What holds anthropology together as a discipline (and in particular the cultural anthropology taught at Marlboro) is a history of theoretical approaches to cross-cultural understanding and field research as a common methodology. The questions that anthropologists ask can vary from "what does it mean to be human?" to "how do people think about and relate to nature?" and "what do people eat and why?" with ethnographic research focused on particular groups of people. Anthropologists can therefore be found studying concepts of space and place among the Western Apache, the kula trade cycle in the Trobriand Islands, sustainable development projects in Indonesia, and tourist markets in West Africa. Historically anthropologists have worked with small groups of people living in such (to us) isolated places as Amazonia and Papua New Guinea; however, today anthropological research is also being conducted in retirement communities in California, Turkish immigrant neighborhoods in Germany, and bluefin tuna fishing ports and markets in Maine, Spain, and Tokyo.

Key skills that come into play in anthropology are reading, field research, and writing. Anthropology students read abundantly to gain a sense of the history of the discipline and its ideas, to familiarize themselves with different ethnographic studies, and to prepare themselves for their own fieldwork projects. Field research projects can be large or small, conducted over the course of a weekend at the college or over the course of a semester spent abroad. Marlboro classes that call for the practice of field methods (not all, but many) are important in developing these skills. Finally, writing is central to anthropology and includes a range of efforts. Documenting ideas, whether those of a published author in a book or from a conversation with someone who might not even be able to read, is something that students will do regularly. Writing is likewise important in combining these ideas—from books and

Areas of interest for plan-level work:

Starting Points (Basic and Introductory Courses)

Introduction to Anthropology (SSC231)
This course provides a broad overview of socio-cultural anthropology. We start by considering two concepts that are central to the discipline: the idea of "culture" ‚– said to be what sets humans apart from all other animals ‚– and the research method called "fieldwork." From there, we take up a range of topics (e.g., language, social relations, economic exchange, power and control, belief systems, socialization, and the nature of the person) and consider the issues and approaches important to anthropologists. Class readings will include a number of ethnographic studies based on research in communities all around the world. (Introductory)

Anthropology of Art (SSC199)
People construct and construe the material objects of their social world according to an elaborate web of local meanings. In this course, the meanings surrounding material culture ‚– "art" and related objects ‚– will be considered in terms of how pieces are made, by whom, for what purposes, and in relation to what other relevant social experiences. We shall also consider such topics as the notion of "primitive art," the role of museums in the history of anthropology, and objects as commodities. Readings will include both theoretical discussions and ethnographic studies of material objects within particular cultural contexts. (Introductory)

Ethnobiology (CDS504) (team-taught with Jenny Ramstetter)
Ethnobiologists explore how people in different societies think about and use plants and animals and, as such, their discipline falls at the intersection of biology and anthropology. Traditionally, the work of ethnobiologists has focused largely on human uses of plants (ethnobotany) and, in particular, the description of plant uses in "exotic" societies, often without much attention to the cultural values, social relations, and conservation issues surrounding these uses. In this class, we will consider a range of topics including taxonomies, land use, healing, and intellectual property rights and hope to go beyond "mere" description of practices to a deeper social, cultural, and biological analysis of the interaction of humans with plants and animals. Case studies will be drawn from around the world. (Introductory)

The Maya (SSC263)
In this course we will focus on Maya culture and society as these are portrayed in a variety of accounts: archaeological, ethnographic, testimonial, theatrical, and touristic. We will consider such topics as kingship, the cosmological orientation of city-states, and the myth-history of the ancient Maya as well as community, ethnicity, repression, and cultural revitalization for Maya living in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and the United States today. A brief overview of the colonial period will give continuity to this history. Throughout the course we will pay a good deal of attention to HOW the Maya are portrayed as new data comes to light, theories change, and different people ‚– including the Maya themselves ‚– with different backgrounds produce a range of works for variety of audiences with variety of interests. (Introductory)

Ethnomathematics (SSC458) (team-taught with Matt Ollis)
What is math and how is it used in daily life? We investigate these questions in various cultural contexts ranging from medieval southern Spain to indigenous Latin America to the islands of the Pacific. Many questions follow, including: How do people in different societies understand what we call "mathematics"? Is math universal? How is math learned? In what ways do people use math to understand their world? What is the relationship between math and other aspects of people's lives? Number systems, geometry, game theory and fractals will be among the math topics considered. Note: the course will be divided into two parts. Students may elect to take the course for 2-3 credits and attend classes Mondays only, which will be anthropology-heavy days. The 4-credit version includes a Thursday class that emphasizes more mathematical dimensions of the subjects. (Introductory)

Pursuing Interests (Intermediate and Thematic Courses)

Anthropological Thought & Theory (SSC128)
An overview of dominant theories that have shaped anthropological research and writing in the twentieth century. Paradigms considered include Boasian anthropology, functionalism, French structuralism, interpretive anthropology, feminist anthropology, historical anthropology, and reflexive anthropology. The majority of the readings will be primary texts. (Intermediate)

Senses of Place (SSC337)
Everyone lives someplace, but how people conceive of where they live differs according to particular cultural senses of space and place. In this course we will draw on readings from a number of world areas to consider how spaces may be embodied, engendered, inscribed, torn apart, crossed, and drawn together; how people relate to different places experientially and expressively; and how how different places reflect and help create--or problematize--people's identities. An integral part of the class will be student-conducted fieldwork on course-related topics. (Intermediate)

Designing Fieldwork (WSP3)
A course focused on fieldwork methods, designing projects for the field, writing field notes and reports, and the theoretical, ethical, and practical issues surrounding all of this. A required course for WSP students preparing to go on internship but valuable for (and open to) non-WSP students considering fieldwork in the U.S. or abroad. (Intermediate)