Anthropological Theory

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This seminar surveys major social theories and debates that inspire and inform anthropological analysis. Over the course of the semester, we will investigate a range of theoretical propositions concerning such topics as agency, structure, ecology, subjectivity, history, technology-social change, power, culture, and the politics of representation. Ultimately, all theories can be read as statements about what it means to be human and the worlds that people come to inhabit and create. We will approach each theoretical perspective or proposition on three levels: (1) in terms of its analytical or explanatory power for understanding human behavior and the cultural and natural world; (2) in the context of the social and historical circumstances in which they were produced; and (3) as contributions to ongoing dialogues and debate.