Advanced Study of Anthropological Theory

This course approaches anthropological theory from three different perspectives: historically, thematically, and through contemporary anthropological research. The first perspective explores some of the key problems to which modern social and cultural anthropology has emerged as a response. The second focuses on major theories, themes, and debates that have informed anthropological inquiry. The third exemplifies how anthropologists revisit and remediate classical theoretical discussions in analytical work today. In addition to reading the course literature, you are expected to take an active part in seminar discussions, complete several writing exercises, and present a course paper orally in class. By the end of the course, you should have acquired the ability critically to discuss central aspects of the history of anthropological theory and be able to make use of such knowledge in the construction of contemporary anthropological problems.