In this course we’ll look at a wide range of cultures around the world and you’ll learn to see these cultures as anthropologists do. Here are some examples of what’s in store for you. We’ll look at how the ancient Hebrews dealt with leprosy, how to manage polyandrous families in Tibet, how to behave during competitive feasting in the Amazon, how hunter-gatherers make a living in Southern Africa, what role a “third sex” played among the Plains Indians, how body art defines the person in America, how to bribe a police officer in Bolivia, what it means to be a good sport in the Pacific Islands, what are the proper techniques of being a Christian snake-handler in West Virginia, how Hmong American healers do their work in Illinois, how to arrange a marriage in India, how people get bewitched in Africa, how hip-hop made it to Japan, how to be a successful crack dealer in Spanish Harlem, and much more.
Course Syllabus (PDF)
