Fall 2004 Courses

ANTH 70000- Colloquia: Current Topics in Anthropology
GC: F 4:15-6:15 PM, Rm. C198, 0 credits [47538]

ANTH 70100- Core Course in Cultural Anthropology: I
GC: W 4:15-6:15 PM, Rm. 6421, 3 credits [47539]
Professors Michael Blim and Gerald Creed
Permission of instructors is required

This course and 70200 in Spring 2004 introduce students to current issues and controversies in cultural anthropology. Both courses are part of the preparation for the first exam in the PhD Program. 70100 does not attempt to be canonical in the sense of providing the background, history, and theory of allegedly "settled" issues in cultural anthropology. Its objective is to encourage engagement with, as well as adaptation to, the ongoing life of the field. Student evaluation for 70100 will be based upon two short papers (no more than eight pages each) and an in-class final examination. Forty percent of the grade derives from the paper assignments, and the remaining sixty percent from the final examination. The papers and exam will be structured as learning devices to help students develop the ability to respond critically to questions based upon current practices and controversies in the field.

ANTH 70300- History of Anthropological Theory
GC: F 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6421, 3 credits [47540]
Professor Donald Robotham
Permission of instructor is required

This course is organized around the contrasting of two central theoretical traditions which deeply shape anthropology and the world today: the civil society and the cultural tradition. The first is the Hobbes-Locke-Adam Smith tradition, which expresses itself in both Marxism and structural functionalism. The second is the Herder-Bastian-Boas tradition, which expresses itself in cultural anthropology. The first tradition is embodied in notions of modernity and history as found in the works of Max Weber, for example. The second is a rejection of modernity and technology, expressed, for example, in the work of Heidegger and Foucault. The course requirement will consist of a single term paper of approximately 15 typewritten pages. This paper will address the central theoretical issues and analyze in depth the historical origins of the issue, the context in which it arose, and its theoretical substance at the time in which it arose.

ANTH 70500- Research Methods
GC: R 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Rm. 6493, 3 credits [47541]
Professor Alysse Waterston

This course examines the philosophy, methodology, process and techniques of qualitative research in anthropology. It seeks to give the student a clear understanding of the variety of philosophical approaches underlying this methodology as well as to familiarize the student with the basic practical steps involved in designing, managing and conducting qualitative research. Special emphasis is spent on the issue of formulating a research question as a part of the process of developing a research proposal. The IRB process is also discussed. In addition, issues of entering and working in the field, interviewing, keeping and writing up field notes and research, and publication will be explored. The course will give a brief review of the software currently available, focussing on one of the leading programs: ATLAS.TI.

ANTH 70600- Foundations of Anthropological Thought: Marx, Weber, Durkheim
GC: R 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Rm. 6421, 3 credits [47542]
Professor Michael Blim

This seminar closely examines the foundations of modern social theory. It is hoped that analysis of the works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim will create not only specific understandings of their contributions to the understanding of the modern world, but will provide a sketch of the terrain upon which contemporary social thought is constructed.

ANTH 71400- Urban Political Economy
GC: T 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Room C198, 3 credits [47543]
Professor David Harvey
Cross-listed with EES 79903

An examination of the historical evolution of selected cities (nineteenth century Vienna, Paris and Chicago and contemporary Mexico City and Bombay) coupled with enquiries into theoretical frameworks for understanding social, economic, political, and cultural change under capitalist urbanization. Among the texts used will be Schorske (Vienna), Harvey (Paris), Cronon (Chicago), and Davis (Mexico City). The theorists examined will include Lefebure, Harvey, Benjamin, Simmel, and several representatives of the Chicago School of Urban Sociology.

ANTH 72100- Ethnology and Ethnography of the Middle East
GC: W 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Rm. 6494, 3 credits [47544]
Professor Talal Asad
Permission of instructor is required

The first part of this course will deal with some general themes relating to the history and society of the Middle East: religion, law, and politics. We will touch on nineteenth and twentieth century questions as well as on very recent developments. The second part will focus on three anthropological monographs that deal with aspects of modernization, the position of women, and collective memory. Emphasis will be placed throughout on reading a limited number of texts carefully, with special attention to modes of analysis and explanation, and the assumptions on which they rest. Supplementary reading will be suggested as we proceed.

ANTH 73300- Ethnology and Ethnography of the Caribbean
GC: T 4:15-6:15 PM, Rm. 3309, 3 credits [47873]
Professor Donald Robotham

This course invites the student to engage with the condition of the Caribbean, historically and today. It begins by examining the historical background of the Caribbean and its peculiar situation of being not of 'the West' but in 'the West.' One of the distinctive features of this region is precisely this presence at the creation of the West. Caribbean ethnology thus raises all the critical issues of globalism, hybridity, race, class, nationalism and transnationalism in a particularly acute way.
The course discusses the background of the peoples of the Caribbean in Africa, Asia and Europe, the region during the slavery and colonial period, the Caribbean Diaspora, and the contemporary challenges faced by the region today. It will discuss particular areas of Caribbean life such as family and kinship, religion and popular culture, class and inequality, race and ethnicity, migration and urbanization, transnationalism, crime, politics and the problems of 'development.' Issues such as gender, ethnicity, hybridity and identity as they arise both within the islands and the Diaspora will be explored. Special attention will be paid to the English-speaking experience and comparatively to Cuba and Puerto Rico.

ANTH 75000- Core Course: Archaeology
GC: M 11:45 AM - 1:45 PM, Rm. 6493, 3 credits [47545]
Professor Tom McGovern

ANTH 77900- Black English: Structure and Use
GC: R 6:30-8:30 PM, Rm. 5212, 3 credits [47546]
Professor Arthur Spears
Cross-listed with LING 79300 and ASCP 81500

This course provides students with a basic understanding of African American English in African American culture and how the study of the language fits into the study of language generally. The emphases will be on grammer and communicative practices and the difference between them and those of (1) other U.S. language varieties; and (2) creole languages of the Americas (e.g., Haitian "Kreyol," Jamaican "Patwa," and Guyanese or "Creolese"). There will also be analyses of the language with respect to (1) its social, political, and economic contexts; (2) ideologies of dominance; (3) its more prominent speech genres; and (4) its use in educational contexts.

ANTH 78900- Physical Anthropology Professional Development
GC: F 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM biweekly, Rm. 6417, 3 credits [47832]
Professor Larissa Swedell in Fall 2004
NOTE: A two-semester course. CUNY students sign up and receive credit in the fall semester only.

This course serves to introduce physical anthropology graduate students to the various ethical and practical issues they will face as professionals. This is a two-semester course which will meet bi-weekly from September through May. The fall semester focuses mainly on ethics and covers topics such as the ethical conduct of science, research with animals and human subjects, conflict of interest, misconduct in science, mentor-trainee relationships, research collaboration, data sharing, and authorship issues. The spring semester focuses on practical aspects of professionalism, such as proposal-writing, oral presentation, science writing, the publication process, peer review, and the job search. The course is discussion-based; requirements include reading assignments and short papers.

ANTH 79300- Genetics and Human Variation
NYU: M 5:00-7:30 PM, Rm. TBA, 3 credits [47827]
Professor Kate Pechenkina

ANTH 79500- Paleobiology of the Primates
NYU: W 3:00-5:45 PM, Rm. TBA, 3 credits [47828]
(occasionally meets at AMNH)
Professor Eric Delson

This course provides a detailed examination of current problems and debates in the study of primate evolution. It considers the practical and theoretical issues concerned with evaluating the fossil evidence. Problems will include those relating to phylogenetic interpretation, taxonomy, paleobiological and paleoecological reconstruction. The aim is for students to intensively review the literature, discuss and critically evaluate the evidence, formulate plausible interpretations, and propose possible new avenues of research.

ANTH 80700- Reading Marx's Capital
GC: M 6:30-8:30 PM, 8th Floor Dining Commons, 3 credits [47547]
Professor David Harvey
Cross-listed with EES 79903

A close reading, chapter by chapter and week by week, of the text of Volume One of Marx's Capital (Vintage Books edition).

ANTH 80800- Doctoral Dissertation Writing
GC: F 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6402.01, 0 credits [47548]
Professor Shirley Lindenbaum

ANTH 81100- Contemporary Theories of Interpretation
GC: M 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6495, 3 credits [47549]
Professor Vincent Crapanzano
Cross-listed with COMP LIT 85000

In recent decades there has been a dramatic turn in social and literary study toward theory. Theorists have made free and sometimes epistemologically promiscuous use of a number of often conflicting theoretical paradigms from philosophy, psychoanalysis, linguistics, Marxism, literary criticism, anthropology, gender, ethnic, and race studies. One notion or another of the text has dominated much of this thinking. Society and culture have been treated, metaphorically, as a text—an ensemble of texts. Paradoxically, while theorists proclaim the primacy of the text, they often sacrifice it to a "meta-textual" virtuosity that breaks with traditional canons of interpretation and understanding. Indeed, the very possibility of interpretation and understanding—of reading—has been put into question. What in fact do we do when we read a text? A society? A culture? Are we destined to produce only commentaries in another, a theoretical register, whose interpretative presumption remains always in doubt? Or do we seek escape from this dilemma through an often idolizing focus on the body, affect, raw experience, or indeed the soul?

Through a close reading of the works of several of the most important contemporary theorists (and the texts, real or metaphorical, they treat) we will explore these and other questions. Particular focus will be placed on the constitution—the reification and valorization of the text (real or metaphorical) in larger discursive practices, on problems of contextualization, and on interlocutory (dialogical) dynamics of the production, reception, and interpretation of the texts and their metaphorical extensions.

Among the authors to be read are Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Sartre, Gadamer, Geertz, Saussure, Levi-Strauss, Sahlins, Foucault, Derrida, Silverstein, Benjamin, and Bakhtin.

ANTH 81300- Place, Politics, and American Empire
GC: T 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6107, 3 credits [47550]
Professor Neil Smith
Cross-listed with ASCP 82000

ANTH 81700- Geographic Thought/Theory
GC: W 5:30-8:15 PM, Rm. 6107, 3 credits [47938]
Professor Neil Smith
Cross-listed with EES 70900

ANTH 82400- Reading Medical Ethnographies
GC: R 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6495, 3 credits [47551]
Professor Shirley Lindenbaum

From a long list of "medical ethnographies" from the 1930's to the present, we will read and discuss particular works, taking into account the history of ideas in anthropology as well as changes in approaches to fieldwork and the writing of ethnographies.

ANTH 84300- Anthropology of Slavery
GC: W 2:00-4:00 PM, Rm. 6300, 3 credits [48208]
Professor Jim Moore

This is a 'special topic' seminar. The readings will be drawn from history, ethnography, archaeology, and biological anthropology. The focus will be worldwide, looking at prehistoric and historic contexts, and not directed only at the historic U.S.

ANTH 89901 - Independent Study/Research in Cultural Anthropology
3-9 credits. Permission of instructor is required.

ANTH 89902 - Independent Study/Research in Archaeology
3-9 credits. Permission of instructor is required.

ANTH 89903 - Independent Study/Research in Linguistic Anthropology
3-9 credits. Permission of instructor is required.

ANTH 89904 - Independent Study/Research in Physical Anthropology
3-9 credits. Permission of instructor is required.

PhD Program in Anthropology - The CUNY Graduate Center
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309
phone: 212.817.8005 fax: 212.817.1501 email:

This departmental publication supplements the official Bulletin of The Graduate School as well as the current Graduate Center Student Handbook and "Announcement of Courses."