The Anthropology of Claude LŽvi-Strauss

Anthropology 493/693 (3 CR)

Fall 2008

 

Instructors:

David Koester

ffdck@uaf.edu

Patrick Plattet

ffpp1@uaf.edu

 

Course Information:

Time: WED 18:00-21:00

Place: Duckering 306

Books should be available in the UAF bookstore

 

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or for undergraduates 100x and Anth 215 or permission of the instructors

 

Required readings for all students:

-         LŽvi-Strauss Claude, 1963-76, Structural Anthropology I, New York: Basic Books

-         LŽvi-Strauss Claude, 1963-76, Structural Anthropology II, New York: Basic Books

-         LŽvi-Strauss Claude, 1969, The Raw and the Cooked, New York: Harper & Row

-         LŽvi-Strauss Claude, 1966, The Savage Mind, Chicago: The University of Chicago Press

 

Recommended readings (required for graduate students):

-         Ferdinand de Saussure, 1966, Course in General Linguistics, New York: McGraw-Hill

-         LŽvi-Strauss Claude, 1985, The View from Afar, New York: Basic Books

 

Course description:

Claude LŽvi-Strauss was probably the most influential anthropologist of the 20th century. His work was widely read over at least 5 decades and his influence continues to be felt not only in anthropology but in other social sciences as well as literature, philosophy and the arts. 2008 marks the centenary of his birth and we are offering this course to celebrate the birthday of this important scholar.

 

Course goals:

The aims of the course are to introduce students to both basic and advanced ideas of structural anthropology and more generally structuralism. The course will not only provide background useful for anthropologists, but a basis for all those interested in theoretical and methodological principles of structural analysis in any humanistic discipline.

 

 

 

Course calendar:

 

á       Week 1 (September 10): Introductory Lecture – no reading assignment (PP)

PART I – STRUCTURAL STUDY OF MYTH

 

á       Week 2 (September 17): The Raw and the Cooked, Parts 1-3, pp. 1-195 (DK)

 

á       Week 3 (September 24): The Raw and the Cooked, Parts 4-5, pp. 199-end (PP)

 

á       Week 4 (October 1): Myths and Myth Analysis(DK)

 

-       Structural Anthropology I : ÒThe Structural Study of MythÓ, Ch. 11, pp. 206-231

-       Structural Anthropology II:

o      ÒFour Winnebago Myths,Ó Ch. 10, pp. 198-210

o      ÒThe Story of Asdiwal,Ó Ch. 9, pp. 140-197

o      ÒThe Sex of the Sun and the Moon,Ó Ch. 11, pp. 211-221

o      ÒRelations of Symmetry Between Rituals and Myths of Neighboring Peoples,Ó Ch. 13, pp. 238-255

o      ÒHow Myths Die,Ó Ch. 14, pp. 256-268

 

-       The View from Afar: ÒFrom Mythical Possibility to Social Existence,Ó Ch. 11, pp. 157-184

 

á       Week 5 (October 8):  Anthropology among the Sciences (PP)

 

-       Structural Anthropology I: Part 4, Ch. 17, ÒThe Place of Anthropology in the Social Sciences and Problems Raised in teaching It,Ó pp. 346-381

-       Structural Anthropology II: Part I, Perspective Views, Chs. 1-5, pp. 3-67

 

PART II – STRUCTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

 

á       Week 6 (October 15):  French Anthropology and the Advent and Legacy of Structuralism

 

Mid-term paper due, no reading assignment

Background lecture on French anthropology

 

á       Week 7 (October 22): Structural Linguistics and Anthropology(PP)

 

-       Course in General Linguistics: selection

-       Structural Anthropology I: Part One, Language and Kinship, pp. 31-97

 

á       Week 8 (October 29): Linguistics, Structural Anthropology and the Social (DK)

 

-       Structural Anthropology I:  Part 2, Social Organization, Chs. 6-8, pp. 101-163

 

á       Week 9 (November 5): Social Organization (DK)

 

-       Structural Anthropology I: Chs. 15-16, pp. 277-345

-       Structural Anthropology II: Part two, Social Organization, Chs. 6-7, pp. 71-112

 

á       Week 10 (November 12): Magic, Religion and Symbols (PP)

 

-     Structural Anthropology I: Part 3, Magic and Religion, Chs. 9-12, pp. 167-241

 

á       Week 11 (November 19):  Social Ideation in Structural Theory

 

-     The Savage Mind: Chaps. 1-4, pp. 1-133 (DK)

 

á       Week 12 (November 26):  Logic and Time in Structural Theory

 

-     The Savage Mind: Chaps. 5-9, pp. 135- 269 (PP)

 

á       Week 13 (December 3):  Structuralism and the Natural World(DK)

 

-       Structural Anthropology II: ÒMushrooms in Culture: Apropos of a Book by R. G. Wasson,Ó Ch. 12, pp. 222-237

-       The View from Afar: ÒStructuralism and Ecology,Ó Ch. 7, pp 101-120

 

á       Week 14 (December 10):  Art (PP)

 

-     Structural Anthropology I: Part 4, Art, Chs. 13-14, pp. 245-273

 

Assignments and Assessment (grading):

 

- Undergraduates:

 

1.   Class participation and class assignments (includes writing assignments) 30%

2.   Mid-term paper (assigned questions)                                                                     30%

3.   Final paper                                                                                                              40%

Write a paper (ca. 10 pages) on a topic of your choice related to this course. Make copies of a 1-page outline for the entire class and present your topic orally without repeating your written paper (not more than 20 minutes per paper, including discussion)

 

- Graduates:

 

1.   Class participation and class assignments (includes writing assignments) 15%

2.   Leading class discussion                                                                                        15%

3.   Mid-term synthesis paper                                                                                       20%

4.   Final paper                                                                                                              50%

Write an in-depth paper (15-20 pages) on one of the themes examined this term. Make copies of a 1-page outline for the entire class and present your topic orally without repeating your written paper (not more than 20 minutes per paper, including discussion)

 

 

Procedures and Policies:

Students are presumed to have a high level of motivation; therefore, you are expected to be present and adequately prepared for each class meeting. Given the high volume of reading demanded of graduate students, it is understood that you may not be able to read every single required reading carefully and thoroughly; however, it will be expected that you will be familiar with every single required reading. Therefore, it is imperative that you develop the ability to skim an article and determine its main argument and key points, so that you will always be able to follow and participate in discussion.

 

Academic Integrity: Students are expected to work in accordance with the UAF Student Code of Conduct (www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/academics/regs3.html).

 

Support Services:

Student Support Services are available at UAF. These services include: 1) free tutorial services; 2) small study groups; 3) academic advising, mentoring, and personal support; 4) direct financial assistance to qualified Pell Grant recipients; 5) use of laptop computers, labs, and other technology resources; and 6) cultural and social engagement. The office is located at 508 Gruening Building, and the phone number is 474-6844. You may also obtain additional information about support services at: www.uaf.edu/sssp/index.html

 

Disability Services:

The University of Alaska is committed to providing equal access for students with disabilities. If you experience a disability and will need special accomodations, please contact me during my office hours.