Anthropology is the study of human commonality and diversity across space and time. Contemporary anthropologists concern themselves with a vast range of scientific and humanistic problems and issues, analyzing everything from primate evolution and ancient human societies to issues of ethnicity, race, identity and community in contemporary societies and cultural settings. Today, anthropologists carry out fieldwork and pursue research in rural and urban settings in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and
This course provides an introduction to the field of socio-cultural anthropology and the following core group of critical and interrelated questions:
- What is distinctive about anthropological approaches to the study of humankind?
- What kinds of methods do anthropologists use to understand human diversity, social patterns and practices, and cultural belief systems?
- What does it mean to speak of anthropological theory? What are the key theoretical models and frameworks that have shaped, and continue to shape the field of socio-cultural anthropology?
- What kinds of contributions do anthropologists make to understanding and resolving contemporary issues and problems – social, political, economic, environmental, medical, etc. – which face our world today? What are the ethical dilemmas that anthropologist encounter in attempting to ameliorate these kinds of problems?
- Teacher: Ahmed Afzal