MB522/622:
Social Anthropology (4 units)
R. Daniel Shaw,
Professor of Anthropology and Translation
Winter 2007 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).
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: The class will meet once a
week in 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 CDRom,
Fuller Bookstore
Wuthnow, R. et. al., Cultural Analysis.
Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1984. (Out of print: permission to reproduce for
classroom use only).
RECOMMENDED READING: (On Library Reserve)
Atkins, A.R. Egalitarian Community. University of Alabama Press. 1991.
Lingenfelter, S. Agents of Transformation: A Guide for Effective Cross-Cultural
Ministry. Grand Rapids: Baker. 1996.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Reading will
form the basis for classroom discussion and students will develop their own
annotated bibliography out of research for weekly 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 (6,250-word).
Th.M.
Students: Add a two-page paper (500-word each)
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.
PREREQUISITES: None. However, Cultural Anthropology or its equivalent is highly recommended.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAM: None.