MB522: Social Anthropology (4 units)
R.
Daniel Shaw, Professor of Anthropology and Translation
Spring 2004 Pasadena
DESCRIPTION:
Anthropology
offers a wide range of understanding that can assist those going into any cultural
context, including their own. It provides an awareness of people and what they
are doing that can have a tremendous impact on doing mission among peoples
living in remote jungles as well as an appreciation for those in the growing
urban contexts of our world. This course is designed to make students aware of
the social environment of any cultural context and its impact on all aspects of
culture, themselves in that context, and the people with whom they interact in
ministry, regardless of where in the world that may be. Topics of discussion
will include understanding social structures, networks, economic concerns, and
the social ramifications of religious systems (particularly in pluralist
societies), worldview, cultural values.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Gain a command of the theoretical issues
pertaining to social structure as an anthropological concept.
• Ability to identify social groupings in a particular cultural context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of social organization to other
cultural aspects in a society.
• Ability to apply social anthropology to missional influence that reflects the
social concerns within the particular context studied during the course.
COURSE FORMAT:
A once a week, three-hour classroom experience
with lecture and discussion.
REQUIRED
READING:
If
you have read any of the required texts for another course, please select an
alternative text from the recommended reading list or a book approved by the
instructor.
Lingenfelter,
S., Transforming Culture. Baker, 1998
(or latest edition).
Shaw, R. D., Transculturation .
William Carey Library, 1988.
Shaw, R. D., MB522 Course Syllabus,
Fuller Bookstore
Wuthnow, R. et. al., Cultural Analysis.
Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1984. (Out of print: permission to reproduce for
classroom use only).
ASSIGNMENTS:
Reading
will form the basis for classroom discussion and students will develop their
own annotated bibliography out of research for weakly assignments. Weekly
assignments will encourage students to investigate a particular social context
where they will observe and conduct interviews to obtain data that will form
the basis for a 25-page term paper.
Th.M. Students: Add a
two-page paper indicating how this course content fits into the
conceptualization, research and writing for their thesis.
Doctoral Students occasionally
find this course useful as a methods course.
Should students apply it in this way, they will be required to make a
presentation of their application of the method to their particular research,
and rewrite the methodology section of their Research Design Paper or Proposal.
PREREQUISITE:
None. However, Cultural Anthropology or its equivalent is highly recommended.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL
EXAMINATION: None.