Discourse Seminar

1 Course Unit

This seminar explores the interface between discourse, culture, and social processes. It is designed for graduate students in anthropology and related disciplines who (1) wish to study some aspect of culture from the perspective of discourse, including not only discourse in the form of linguistic signs but also discourse as film or other multimodal signs; and (2) themselves have or will acquire during the semester materials (texts, recordings, ethnographic data, etc.) that they wish to analyze from an anthropological point view or who are preparing dissertation proposals dealing these issues. While the course is designed with these two purposes, graduate students interested in studying literature on discourse for other purposes are also welcomed. Class sessions will include discussion of theoretical issues in the study of discourse, as well as writings by contemporary authors dealing with semiotics, discourse, and film. The seminar is designed for maximum flexibility in accommodating students interests and needs. Fall or Spring 1 Course Unit