Excavating Culture

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of anthropology through a deep dive into ethnographic writing on different regions of the world. Selected countries (including the U.S.) are discussed concerning how culture influences their political, geographic, and economic characteristics. Several concepts and themes are explored: family and identity construction, violence and resilience, colonialism and inequality, gender and sexuality, and global interconnectedness. This course emphasizes contemporary events, particularly as they relate to the course's fundamental themes.