Week 1: Introduction – What is Religion?
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance and Participation is based on your discussion board post on Blackboard. For this week make a post on the discussion board under “introductions” (Tell us your personal interests (your major, your hobbies, etc.) and /or given our circumstances with this shift to online format: how are you feeling? What are your fears, hopes, aspirations?). These weekly posts are how I determine your attendance and participation in the class. All posts are due each Friday by 11:59PM.
Week 2: Symbols
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance/participation will be determined by your post in the discussion board on Blackboard. Read the entire article before answering the questions. Only answer one option each covering the topic, thesis, and cultural example (aim for 250 words): Week 2 Symbols Discussion Board Questions.
Week 3: Worldview
*Homework: Extra Credit Methodology Template Due this week. Methodology Terms for your reference.
Participation/Observation: Week 3 Worldview Discussion Board Questions
Week 4: Taboo
Attendance/Participation: Week 4 Taboo Discussion Board Questions
Week 5: Totemism
**HOMEWORK: 5 page fieldwork observation paper due– upload on Blackboard “Turnitin” by 11:59PM Friday [You will use this description as a basis, as evidence to prove a thesis, for your final paper]
WATCH: We will be watching this film to review some key concepts from the course and you will need to connect an article from the course to the film on the midterm test. Watch the film “Masai Woman” and the 15 minute Ted Talk.
Citation/Reference for film:
Davis, Melissa Llewelyn. 1974. Masai Woman. Documentary Film. Directed by Christoper Curling. Produced by British Granada Television Series. Faces of Culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSqqPbk9CUo
Ntaiya, Kakenya. 2012. A Girl Who Demanded School. October. Accessed March 18, 2021. https://www.ted.com/talks/kakenya_ntaiya_a_girl_who_demanded_school?language=en.
Attendance/Participation: Today I will use the film to illustrate key concepts in Anthropology (Cultural Relativism, Ethnocentrism, Emic, Etic). This films raises various issues particularly in terms of gender equity and cultural relativism. You will need to watch both the Masai Woman film and the Ted talk in order to answer the following. Post on the discussion board on Blackboard (pick one option) Week 5 Discussion Board Questions
Week 6: Myth
Argument Driven Analysis Handout
Attendance/Participation: Week 6 Myth Discussion Board Questions.
Week 7: Ritual
Attendance/Participation: Week 7 Ritual Discussion Board Questions
Week 8: Rites of Passage
*Homework: Extra Credit Article Template due
Attendance/Participation: Week 8 Rites of Passage Discussion Board Questions
Week 9: Witchcraft
- TEST: This week covers materials through Week 8. See Blackboard for details regarding the test and review materials.
WATCH: Short film, “The Asmat of New Guinea: A Case Study in Religion and Magic”
Citation/Reference for film:
Jordan, William H. 1983. The Asmat of New Guinea: A Case Study in Religion and Magic. Produced by Ira R. Abrams. Faces of Cultures.
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance/participation will be determined by your post in the discussion board. Read the entire article before answering the questions. You will discuss the topic, thesis, and cultural example for one of the articles for today (aim for 250 words). You can use examples from the “Asmat” film in your answer. Only answer one option. Week 9 Witchcraft Discussion Board Questions
Week 10: Magic
*Homework: Extra Credit Citation, topic sentence, Thesis template due.
Attendance/Participation: You can use examples from the “Asmat” film in your answer. Week 10 Magic Discussion Board Questions
Week 11: Identity, Memory, & Belief Systems
Attendance/Participation: Week 11 Identity Discussion Board Questions
Week 12: Religious Practitioners, Religion & Healing
**HOMEWORK Homework: Final Paper Due (upload on Blackboard “turnitin” by Friday 11:59 PM). Make sure you have carefully reviewed my pre-recorded description of this assignment “Final Paper Description2 audio” (On Blackboard) and reviewed the description with grading rubric on the assignment and syllabus.
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance/participation will be determined by your post in the discussion board talk about the Karen McCarthy Brown book. This book does not use much theory and reads very much like a story. Pick one article from the course (ie. Ortner, Geertz, Turner, Evans-Pritchard, Wolf, etc.) and relate the thesis/theory/concepts from the article you chose to a scene in the Mama Lola book. If you can, pick an article that you used for your final paper and/or the midterm test. . Week 12 Discussion Board Questions
Week 13: Ghosts & Spirits
Attendance/Participation: In addition to your regular questions related to the reader, you have the option of telling a ghost story. Week 13 Ghosts & Spirits Discussion Board Questions
Week 14: Syncretism, Power, Resistance, & Cultural Change
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance/participation will be determined by your post in the discussion board. We will be watching the film “Devils Miner” to review some key concepts from the course, but also to look at the impact of power on local communities. (aim for 250 words). Only answer one option. Week 14 Cultural Change Discussion Board Questions
Watch Film: Available on City Tech Library Database Kanopy
Or go to You tube — the film is in Spanish but has English subtitles:
Reference for film:
Davidson, Kief, and Richard Ladkani. 2005. The Devil’s Miner. Documentary Film. Directed by Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani. Cinema Delicatessen.
Week 15: Revitalization Movements
Attendance/Participation: Your attendance/participation will be determined by your post in the discussion board on Blackboard. Read the entire article before answering the questions. The second option is to post an image of something artistic or creative you have done. Only answer one option (aim for 250 words). Week 15 Revitalization Discussion Board Questions.
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