Critical Locations in the Anthropology of the United States

This graduate seminar locates and explores the anthropology of the United States. Students first work to understand the social history of anthropology in the U.S., including its theoretical and methodological contributions, and the range of approaches and examples. The course is then organized thematically as students explore key moments along this trajectory, through a close reading of ethnographic work in various settings. The course places a particular emphasis on scholars, topics, and populations that have been historically understudied and sidelined within the larger inquiry, but that are nonetheless critical for the expanded contribution of anthropological work in this field.