Assignment
A. Did anthropology's method of looking at homelessness change your opinion of the homeless? Why or why not? What are your two favorite solutions presented in class?
B. According to the lecture on creating the term "race," what did cash crops have to do with making the modern idea of "race"?
C. Anthropologists often say that in nonindustrial societies, economic relationships are embedded in social relationships. What does this mean? Think about reciprocity.
D. In Jonathan Kozol's "Savage Inequalities," He depicts a dire situation in East St. Louis. What, if any, connection exists between his article, which was written in the 90s, and the situation of tension between the police and African American residents, recently brought to light by the BLM movement and other social unrest elsewhere in the United States?
E. In the article "The Berdache Tradition" by Walter Williams, he shows how the idea of a gender binary is not practiced the same in every society. What is a Berdache, and what special role have they played in Native American societies?
F. In the film "Consuming Kids; The Commercialization of Childhood," what was the main point in your opinion? What does that have to do with the chapter on family and marriage that we discussed in class?
G. In the article The Price of Progress by John Bodley, what did he say was the price or negative aspects of moving from an agrarian society to an industrial society? Essentially, what was the price of progress?
H. What are three ways anthropology is used in our society besides academia?
I. What are some of the problems with how we currently use the word "race" in the census and other societal institutions, and what is a proposed solution?
J. In the article Why Can't People Feed Themselves, by Frances Lappe and Joseph Collins, why can't developing countries around the world feed themselves? What do cash crops and taxes have to do with this?
K. Tell me two reasons that the cultural phenomenon of polyandry (one woman, multiple men) and two reasons polygyny (one-man, multiple women) would be developed in a society according to our lecture in class.
L. In Noam Chomsky's article, "Noam Chomsky on the Roots of American Racism," what did he mean by the phrase "The New Jim Crow"?
M. According to our lecture, does the practice of paying a dowry necessarily imply gender inequality? Why or why not?
N. In the article "Kinderculture in America. The social construct of childhood" What role did the wizard of O.Z. play in constructing childhood? Do you agree? Why or why not?
O. What part of the movie "Before the Flood" was your favorite and why? What were your two favorite solutions presented in the film?
P. How are sexuality, sex, and gender, related to each other? What are the differences between these three analytical concepts?
Q. In the film, The 13th by Ava DuVernay, how does she connect the 13th amendment to the modern war on drugs? Do you agree? Why or why not?
R. In the article Too Many Bananas, Not Enough Pineapples, and No Watermelon at All by David Counts, why does he say never to refuse a gift (bananas)? Why should you never ask for a specific gift (Pineapple)?
S. In the article The Hijras: An Alternative Gender in India by Serena Nanda, what is the significance of the operation known as "nirvana"?
T. What is something that you liked from this class that I should do more of, and what could I do better? Please be honest to help me make this course more effective for learning for my future students.