Caribbean Anthropology ANTH 290C MWF: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm JSC 161 Fall 2013 Professor: Gillian Richards-Greaves Office Hours: Fridays, 4pm-5pm Email:[email protected] and by appointment Office: Asbury Hall 307 Office Telephone: (765) 658-6309 ____________________________________________________________________________ COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Caribbean region is comprised of islands, such as Bahamas and Trinidad, and continental regions, including Belize, Suriname, and Guyana. The Caribbean is culturally diverse, comprising of peoples from various regions of the world, including China, India, and West Africa. This course explores the history, development, and “culture” of the Caribbean by interrogating how the intersections of various forces—including slavery, colonialism, politics, music, and migration—shaped the region. COURSE GOALS: 1. Understand the historical factors that gave rise to the diversity of the Caribbean region 2. Identify the role of CARICOM in shaper intra-Caribbean relationships and identities 3. Articulate the positive and negative roles of tourism in shaping national identities 4. Use anthropological theories and methods as a framework for examining practices and themes in the Caribbean that are common to most societies, including subsistence, politics and power, class, family and kinship, religion, ritual, race and ethnicity. 5. Utilize fundamental anthropological research methods to conduct ethnographic research 6. Identify the ways that politics, religion, music, and other cultural values and expressions are reinterpreted in transnational contexts 7. Identify how anthropological perspectives are applied to solve real life problems. Required Book/Materials Knight, Franklin W. and Colin A. Palmer, Eds. 1989. The Modern Caribbean. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. Manuel, Peter. 2006. Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae, 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. • Additional articles are assigned and are available on Moodle under Library course reserves. Please bring a copy of the reading to class on the day it is assigned. ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING Quiz (10%). This is an in-class, closed-book quiz that is designed to evaluate your progress in the course and familiarize you with my style of testing. The quiz will consist of one essay question and two short-answer questions. Group Research Project (20%). During the course of the semester you will assign yourselves to groups (4 persons per group) and will execute a research project on the issues and concepts directly relevant to the Caribbean. The goal of this project is to enable you to apply anthropological research methods to further interrogate the complexities of the Caribbean, and to come up with tangible solutions to the problems that persist in this region. A write-up (15-20 pages) of your research findings and solutions is required for the Group Research Project. Before beginning this project, however, you must submit a one-page proposal (5% of overall grade), describing your research question, methods, location, and other relevant information. A detailed description of the research proposal and project will be discussed in class and placed on Moodle by the second week of classes. Group Presentation (20%) This is an in-class, twenty-minute PowerPoint presentation of your research findings, solutions, and applications. Your presentation must be organized, informative, and creative. Leave us wanting to know more about your research area or topic. Mid-term Exam (20 %). This in-class, closed-book exam will consist of short answers and essay questions. It will cover the core issues and concepts discussed in class. Final Map-Concept Exam (25 %) This is an in-class, closed-book exam that evaluates students’ knowledge of the Caribbean region and specific processes that shaped its development. This exam will test your knowledge of the geography of the region, as well as evaluate your understanding of the intersections of race, class, gender, and other anthropological issues on the socio-historical, political, and cultural climate of the transnational Caribbean. Participation (10%) Complete assigned readings and come to class prepared to discuss issues and concepts addressed in those readings. Here are some questions to consider when reading articles: 1) What is the main point (s) of the reading? 2) How is the reading relevant to the topic course topic? 3) How can you apply what you have read to solve real life issues? Grades in this course are determined by the following criteria: Research Proposal 5% Quiz 10% Research Project 20% Group Presentation 15% Midterm 20% Caribbean Anthropology, 2013 Page 2 of 10 Final Map Exam 20% Participation 10% Grading Scale: A 94%+ A- 90-93% B+ 87-89% B 84-86% B- 80-83% C+ 77-79% C 74-76% C- 70-73% D+ 67-69% D 64-66% D- 60-63% F 59%- The following information will help you better understand the criteria for graded material: A= exceptionally thought-provoking, original, creative in both content and manner of presentation, and a skillful use of concepts and/or materials which are fully supported. B= presents a solid understanding of the subject matter and an ability to handle the issues and materials encountered in the subject with only minor errors. C= demonstrates an adequate understanding of the subject matter with central ideas present, but too general, repetitious and not clearly supported or integrated with evidence and details. D= a minimally acceptable performance with a confusing central idea and lacking details. Parts of the assignment are missing and/or incomplete. F= shows lack of effort and minimal comprehension of material with major mechanical errors, no thesis, and misuse of key concepts. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY Remember to give credit where credit is due. Students who present another writer’s words as their own or who neglect to cite proper bibliographical information when referring to material published on-line, in reference books, or in a journal or book of any kind are subject to disciplinary action by the university. DePauw’s policy states that “cheating, plagiarism, submission of the work of others, etc. violates DePauw policy on academic integrity and may result in penalties ranging from a lowered grade to course failure or expulsion.” (http://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/tipsplanningcoursesyllabi2.pdf) To familiarize yourselves with proper citation procedures, please visit the W center and/or online resources such as (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/). Please see the following link for more information about the university’s academic integrity policy. http://www.depauw.edu/handbooks/academic/policies/integrity/ Caribbean Anthropology, 2013 Page 3 of 10 LAPTOPS Laptop computers are allowed ONLY for note-taking purposes and for viewing relevant course materials during class discussion. ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY Attendance and punctuality are crucial to your overall participation grade. I take attendance everyday. If you have to miss class to observe a religious holiday, please provide me with written notification at least two weeks in advance. You are allowed one unexcused absence, but I will deduct 5 points from your final grade for each absence thereafter. If you have to miss class for medical reasons, please bring me a doctor’s notes. Be punctual and prepared. Submit assignments on the day they are due. I will deduct three points from assignments submitted a day after the deadline. If assignments are submitted I will NOT accept assignments a week after the due date. STUDENT DISABILITY SERVICES DePauw University is committed to providing equal access to academic programs and University administered activities with reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments (ADAAA). Any student who feels she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability or learning challenge is strongly encouraged to contact Pamela Roberts, Coordinator of Student Disability Services for further information on how to receive accommodations and support. Student Disability Services is located at 101 E. Seminary St., 765-658-6267. SCHEDULE OF CLASSES: TOPICS, ASSIGNED READINGS, AND ACTIVITIES Important: Readings, class topics, and projects may be subject to minor changes. These changes will be announced on Moodle and in class. Please check the website each week for announcements and updates. Week Date Lecture Topic Readings Aug. 28 Introductions None. Reading: Yelvington, Kevin A. 2001. “The Aug. 30 What is Anthropology of Afro-Latin America and the Caribbean: Caribbean Diasporic Dimensions.” Annual Review of Anthropology Anthropology? 30: 227-260. 01 Reading: Slocum, Karla. 2003. “Rethinking Global and Area Studies…” Anthropology.” American Anthropologist 105(3): 553-565. Sept. 2 Reading: Truillot, Michel-Rolph. 1992. “The Caribbean The Caribbean Region: An Open Frontier in Anthropological Theory” Region: An Annual Review of Anthropology 21, pp. 19-42. Overview Reading: Herskovits, Melville. 1930. “The Negro in the 02 New World: The Statement of a Problem,” American Anthropologist 32, 145-155. Caribbean Anthropology, 2013 Page 4 of 10 Sept. 4 Reading: Knight, Franklin W. and Colin A. Palmer, Chapter 1 (pgs. 1-20). Reading: Henke, Holger. 1996. “Mapping the ‘Inner Plantation’: A Cultural Exploration of the Origins of Caribbean Local Discourse.” Social and Economic Studies 45(4): 51-75. Sept. 6 CARICOM (Caribbean Community). Visit the Caricom’s website to get an overview of