Office of the Registrar
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2019/2020)
15 Course Descriptions
15.1 Anthropology

In accordance with Senate's Policy Regarding Inactive Courses, the course descriptions for courses which have not been offered in the previous three academic years and which are not scheduled to be offered in the current academic year have been removed from the following listing. For information about any of these inactive courses, contact the Head of the Department.

Students should note that credit may not be obtained for an Archaeology course if, prior to 2007, the student received credit for that course when it was designated as an Anthropology course.

A tentative list of upcoming Anthropology course offerings can be found at www.mun.ca/hss/courses.php.

Anthropology courses are designated by ANTH.

1031

Introduction to Anthropology

provides an overview of the field of social and cultural anthropology. It covers key anthropological concepts used to study issues such as inequality, social justice, the environment, work, politics and law, family, identity, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, spirituality, and communication. An emphasis is placed on human diversity, international examples, and processes of globalization. This course is suitable for students in all disciplines.

CR: the former ANTH 1000 or 2000

2260

War and Aggression

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 2260 and the former Sociology 2260) is a critical review of ethological, psychological and sociological approaches to the understanding of violence and organized aggression.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 2260, the former Sociology 2260

2280

The City

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 2280 and the former Sociology 2280) examines varieties of urban life around the world and through history. The city as habitat and as spectacle.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 2280, the former Sociology 2280

2350

Religious Institutions

(same as Religious Studies 2350) is a contextual study of religious institutions and beliefs, calendrical feasts and solemnities, religious roles and hierarchies, ritual innovation and revitalization.

CR: Religious Studies 2350, the former Sociology/Anthropology 2350, the former Sociology 2350

2410

Classics in Anthropology

is an examination of selected milestone monographs, ground-breaking studies for subdisciplinary specialties, and major syntheses.

2411

Anthropologists in the Field

combines a firsthand introduction to ethnographic research and writing with an exploration of how anthropological understanding develops through the experiences and human relationships of anthropologists in the field.

2412

Threatened Peoples

is an examination of key social and cultural factors involved in the global extinction of small-scale societies; the intrusive influences that jeopardize small-scale societies, such as disease; economic and military incursion; the role of international non-governmental agencies in aid of threatened peoples; and the role of the anthropologist in this human crisis. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

2413

Culture, Society and Globalization

explores the way in which social, cultural, economic and political interconnections at the global level interact with local social and cultural processes. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

2414

Aboriginal Peoples of North America

is a survey course dealing with various indigenous peoples of North America.

CR: the former ANTH 3281

2415

Anthropology of Food

explores how cultural identities, social relationships, and inequalities are linked to the production, exchange, and consumption of food.

2416

Cultural Formations

explores the symbolic formations that humans create in order to give meaning to their lives. Some of the cultural formations that will be studied include specific examples from the realms of religion, play, sports, art, and commonplace material objects.

3050

Ecology and Culture

reviews the co-evolution of the fields of ecology and anthropology since the late 19th century and examines the variety of contemporary perspectives on the interconnection between social and ecological systems.

3052

Anthropology and Directed Social Change

- inactive course.

3053

Anthropology of Religion

(same as Religious Studies 3053) is a critical evaluation of anthropological research on religion, centering on seminal thinkers and major theoretical traditions. Special attention is given to the study of belief systems, and to relationships between belief and ritual.

CR: Religious Studies 3053

3054

Play, Games and Sport

is an examination of the phenomenon of play in a variety of human cultures, and in such forms of activity as religion, politics, festival, speech, performance, and artistic creation. Principal themes are the functional role of play in social relations, and the meaningful role of play in social thought.

3058

Urban Anthropology

is an examination of anthropological studies of urban populations and population segments, such as ethnic groups and categories, occupations, neighbourhoods, etc.

3060

The Idea of Culture

is the history of ideas, dealing with the emergence of this key anthropological concept, the meanings it has acquired, its broader implications, and major critiques of its use in the social sciences.

3061

Culture and Social Inequality

examines the role of culture in mediating different forms of social inequality, exploring the idea that culture is not only a way of life but also a way of managing power among unequals, from individuals to social classes. Readings in the course concentrate on cultural techniques of social control.

3062

Anthropology in Social Policy-making

- inactive course.

3063

The Politics of Ethnicity and Multiculturalism

examines anthropological approaches and contributions to debates about ethnicity and multiculturalism.

3064

Anthropology and the Study of Social Problems

- inactive course.

3070

Aboriginal Self-Governance

(same as the former ANTH 4070) examines contemporary Issues on the development of, and barriers to, self-government among Canadian aboriginal peoples. The focus will be on topics such as land claims and claims settlements, self-government agreements and proposed agreements, economic development, environmental and social Impact of Industrial developments, and cultural and religious revival.

CR: the former ANTH 4070

3073

Imaginary Worlds

explores the anthropology of imaginary worlds, including those created through pseudo-history, on-line gaming, science fiction and fantasy literature, and film. Particular examples will be examined in terms of the ways that social stratification, gender, ethnicity, race, and cultural beliefs become constructed inside of these imaginary worlds.

3082

Banditry, Rebellion, and Social Revolution

examines types of social conflict specific to different kinds of class-based society, including social banditry, primitive rebellions, and peasant revolutions. More generally, social conflict is used to explore the variety of ways that pre-industrial societies have been made part of the modern world economy.

3083

Global Environmental Crises

examines the social, cultural, and economic forces that have contributed to rapid resource depletion and other environmental changes from the 20th century to present, and looks at how the impacts of these changes have been experienced around the world. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

3100

Dominance and Power

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 3100 and the former Sociology 3100) is a study of dominance behaviour in human societies, surveying the range from private to public and from openly exploitative to fully legitimate power systems.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 3100, the former Sociology 3100

3200

Anthropology of the Global Economy

explores the way in which anthropologists have studied the inter-linkages among economic, social and cultural processes. Topics covered include key concepts (e.g., gifts and commodities, exchange relationships) and debates (e.g., formalist versus substantivist) in economic anthropology, and the way in which different societies and social groups are integrated within global capitalist markets. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

CR: the former ANTH 4200

3240

Regional Studies: Contemporary Native Peoples of Canada

- inactive course.

3241

Regional Studies: The Atlantic

is selected topics in the ecological, cultural, economic, social and political characteristics of the North Atlantic Region.

3242

European Societies

- inactive course.

3249

Peoples of the Pacific

- inactive course.

3254-3257

Regional Studies

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 3254-3257 and the former Sociology 3254-3257) are interdisciplinary approaches to the study of selected regions.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 3254-3257, the former Sociology 3254-3257

3260

International Development

(same as Sociology 3260) is an examination of theories of development including a critical analysis of international case studies. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

CR: Sociology 3260, the former Sociology/Anthropology 3260

3280

The Arctic

studies cultural, ecologic, economic and social systems in the northern circumpolar regions.

3300

Fieldwork Methods

focuses on the process of anthropological fieldwork. Readings, discussions and evaluations will examine a range of issues and concepts that include observation techniques, interviewing, ethical issues, and the interpretation of data. Students will conduct original fieldwork to learn how to apply some of these skills.

CR: the former ANTH 4300

3305

The Anthropology of Gender

- inactive course.

3384-3389

Regional Studies in Anthropology

3403

The Anthropology of Travel and Tourism

is an exploration of the anthropological study of travel and tourism. Students will learn how to critically evaluate this global industry and consider the role that it plays in the formation of contemporary human identity.

3404

Visual Anthropology

explores the use of documentary film, photography, and new digital media in anthropological fieldwork. It also teaches students how anthropologists study visual media such as television, newspapers, popular films, social networking sites, web sites, and photography collections.

3406

The Anthropology of Ritual

examines a range of theoretical perspectives, case studies and individual theorists in the study of ritual.

3407

Medical Anthropology

focuses on a range of issues including illness, disease and healing, sexuality and reproduction, pandemics and epidemics, medical technology and bioethics.

3408

Engaged Anthropology

is a seminar course exploring debates about the potential - and potential pitfalls - of a variety of approaches to publicly engaged anthropology.

3409

War and Globalization

examines selected wars of the late 20th and 21st centuries to understand how war, political violence and the repartitioning of the world have become intrinsic features of the current era of globalization. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

3410

Classic Theory in Anthropology

(same as the former ANTH 4410) follows a historical approach to understanding some of the key theoretical trends in anthropology since the inception of the discipline.

CR: the former ANTH 4410

3411

Anthropology of Foraging

deals with societies heavily reliant on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild foods. Industrial and post-industrial settings in which various forms of foraging (including recycling) are the basis for some people’s livelihood will also be considered.

3421-3430

Anthropological Specialties

will have a topic of current interest and importance announced by the Department for each term.

3451

Ethnography of Gambling

- inactive course.

3452

Fisheries, Aquaculture, and the Global Commodity

explores social and environmental tensions related to the increasing commodification and financialization of fisheries around the world. Topics include the changing roles of fisheries and aquaculture in global and local economic and food systems; the impact of fisheries privatization and restructuring on coastal communities; environmental crises related to fisheries and aquaculture; and ways that science and technology have constructed and transformed both fish and aquatic environments. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

3630

New Media Methods in Social Research

(same as Sociology 3630 and the former Sociology/Anthropology 3630) will explore non-print means for recording social behaviour and will utilize various forms of the media as a descriptive and an analytic tool.

CR: Sociology 3630, the former Sociology/Anthropology 3630

3700

Social and Cultural Change

- inactive course.

4030

Legal Anthropology

- inactive course.

4071

Social and Cultural Aspects of Health and Illness

(same as Sociology 4071) will cover topics which may include: cultural concepts of illness and health; theories of disease causation; relationships between social life and illness patterns; symbiotic use of illness; variations in philosophies of treatment and in practitioner/patient relationships; the social organization of medicine.

CR: Sociology 4071, the former Sociology/Anthropology 4071

4072

Social and Cultural Aspects of Death

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 4072 and the former Sociology 4072) covers topics which may include: symbolic meanings and values attached to death; cultural and historical variations in the management of death, e.g. treatment of the 'terminally ill', burial rites, the mourning process, and the social fate of survivors, together with the social and psychological meanings of these behaviours. Open to those without normal prerequisites by permission of the Instructor.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 4072, the former Sociology 4072

4073

Studies in Underclass Life

(same as the former Sociology/Anthropology 4073 and the former Sociology 4073) is a critical inquiry into the social sources of human misery and suffering that characterize life in the underclass.

CR: the former Sociology/Anthropology 4073, the former Sociology 4073

4081

Advanced Seminar in the Anthropology of Gender

- inactive course.

4089

Language and Social Change

- inactive course.

4201

Current Debates in the Anthropology of Ireland

explores selected current debates in the anthropology of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Seminars centre on the critical reading of recent ethnographic studies. The course considers Ireland, north and south, as a changing scene, assesses the current state of Irish ethnography and considers how the field might develop.

4202-4209

Special Areas in Anthropology

is a series of individual or small group tutorials and reading courses on topics of special or current interest.

PR: Departmental permission

4280

Advanced Newfoundland and Labrador Ethnography

surveys the ethnographic literature on Newfoundland and Labrador, past and present, with special emphasis on ecological adaptation, interpersonal relations, class formation, patronage, brokerage, clientship, state formation, and modernization.

4301

The Intensive Study of One Culture

- inactive course.

4302

Ethnographic Life Histories

- inactive course.

4412

Contemporary Theory in Anthropology

is an evaluation of current approaches to culture and power through a focus on critical issues and major schools of contemporary thought influencing Anthropology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Emphasis is placed on major works, paradigms and individual theorists.

4415

Labour and Global Capitalism

examines core issues and problems entailed in the anthropological analysis of work and labour in the context of the global economy. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

4416

Anthropology of Slums

examines social class forces producing a planet of slums, and details ways that everyday forms of violence, social injustice, and poverty take social shape in the everyday lives of slum dwellers. Among the topics covered are: social class formations, including ghettos, favelas, and shanty towns; surplus populations and disposable peoples resulting from late capitalist globalization; and forms of resistance and struggle that arise within dispossessed populations. All sections of this course follow International Studies guidelines available at www.mun.ca/hss/IS.

4417

Anthropology of Sound

examines how ethnographers do comparative research on the everyday sounds found in people’s daily environments, including music and new media products.

4418

Marx and Social Inquiry

examines the uses of Marx’s later writings, especially Capital, in current American Anthropology. The primary focus is on the agenda-setting works of Eric Wolf and David Harvey. Topics include: capital accumulation and the making of localities; primitive accumulation and class formation; uneven global development; crises of capitalism and crises of social reproduction; capitalist globalization and disposable surplus populations.

4422

The Craft of Writing Anthropological Narrative

is a seminar open to senior students in any discipline, which examines in detail both the mechanics and the sensitivities necessary to produce literate analysis.

4450

Politics of Landscapes

is a survey of the variety of past and present systems of land tenure, showing their relevance to development/underdevelopment, conflicts with the state, relationships to social organization, symbolic significance, etc.

4994

Honours Essay I

prepares students for the Honours Essay by helping them refine their research topics; providing them with independent research and writing skills; and offering a structured context in which to conduct the preliminary stages of Honours Essay research and writing.

PR: admission to the Honours program in Anthropology

4995

Honours Essay II

is required as part of the Honours program.

PR: ANTH 4994

AR = Attendance requirement; CH = Credit hours are 3 unless otherwise noted; CO = Co-requisite(s); CR = Credit can be retained for only one course from the set(s) consisting of the course being described and the course(s) listed; LC = Lecture hours per week are 3 unless otherwise noted; LH = Laboratory hours per week; OR = Other requirements of the course such as tutorials, practical sessions, or seminars; PR = Prerequisite(s); UL = Usage limitation(s).