Anthropology and Creative Writing

3 units

Creative writing has much to offer anthropology. This course explores how methods of artistic writing and expression can shape stories and studies of cultural life in the global world. We consider the uses of journalism, fiction, memoir, poetry, and cinema in anthropology's understanding of the richness, the deep emotional tone, and also the dangers of human experience. We look at such issues and themes as the ordinary life and everydayness, coming of age and fitting in, the feeling of being at home and senses of place, narratives of illness and affliction, how people cope with trauma and violence, what makes our bodies powerful or vulnerable, and why things really matter. Although students are actively involved in writing stories, this is not a writing intensive course.