Anthropology

51 Hillhouse, Rm 2A, 432.3665
M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Chair
Andrew Hill

Director of Graduate Studies
Kathryn Dudley (Rm 3, 158 Whitney Avenue, 432.6083)

Professors
Richard Burger, Michael Dove (Forestry & Environmental Studies), Kathryn Dudley, J. Joseph Errington, Thomas Blom Hansen, Andrew Hill, Frank Hole, William Kelly, Enrique Mayer, Patricia Pessar (Adjunct, American Studies), Harold Scheffler, James Scott (Political Science), Helen Siu, John Szwed, David Watts, Harvey Weiss (Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations)

Associate Professors
Richard Bribiescas, M. Kamari Clarke, David Graeber, Nora Groce (Adjunct, Epidemiology & Public Health), Linda-Anne Rebhun, Eric Worby

Assistant Professors
J. Bernard Bate, Marcello Canuto, Eric Sargis, Thomas Tartaron

Lecturers
Carol Carpenter (Forestry & Environmental Studies), Lisa Collins

Fields of Study
The department has four subfields. Archaeology focuses on ritual complexes and writing, ceramic analysis, warfare, ancient civilizations, origins of agriculture, and museum studies. Sociocultural anthropology provides a range of courses: classics in ethnography and social theory, religion, myth and ritual, kinship and descent, historical anthropology, culture and political economy, agrarian studies, ecology, environment and social change, medical anthropology, emotions, public health, sexual meanings and gender, postcolonial development, ethnicity, identity politics and diaspora, urban anthropology, global mass culture, and alternate modernity. Linguistic anthropology includes language, nationalism, and ideology, structuralism and semiotics, feminist discourse. Physical anthropology focuses on paleoanthropology, evolutionary theory, human functional anatomy, race and human biological diversity, primate ecology. There is strong geographical coverage in Africa, the Caribbean, East Asia (China and Japan), Latin America and South America, Southeast Asia (Indonesia), South Asia and the Indian Ocean, the Near East, Europe, and the United States.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree
Although there are a few required courses or seminars for each subfield, more than three-fourths of a student's program consists of electives, including course work in other departments. Admission to candidacy requires: (1) completion of two years of course work (sixteen term courses); (2) independent study and research; (3) satisfactory performance on qualifying examinations; and (4) a dissertation research proposal submitted and approved before the end of the third year. Qualifying examinations, normally taken at the end of the second year, consist of eight hours written (four hours on one of the subfields, four hours on the student's special interest), and two hours oral. Dissertations are normally based on field or laboratory research.

Combined Ph.D. Programs
The Anthropology department also offers a combined Ph.D. in Anthropology and Forestry & Environmental Studies in conjunction with the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and a combined Ph.D. in Anthropology and African American Studies in conjunction with the Department of African American Studies. These combined programs are ideal for students who intend to concentrate in, and to write dissertations on, thematic and theoretical issues centrally concerned with anthropology and one of these other areas of study. Students in the combined degree programs will be subject to the combined supervision of faculty members in the Anthropology department and in the respective department or school.

Admission into the combined degree program in Anthropology and African American Studies is based on mutual agreement between these two departments. Individual students will develop courses of study in consultation with their academic advisers and with the directors of graduate study for both departments. Students in the program must take core courses in Anthropology and in African American Studies, plus related courses in both departments approved by their advisory committees. In addition, they must successfully complete the African American Studies third-year Research Workshop. Oral and written qualifying examinations must include two topics in the field of African American Studies and two topics in Anthropology. The examination committee must include at least one faculty member from each department. The dissertation prospectus must be submitted to the directors of graduate study of both departments and approved by the faculty of both. The thesis readers committee must also include at least one faculty member from each department, and the faculties of both departments must approve its composition.

Master's Degrees
M.Phil. See Graduate School requirements, page 416.

M.A. This degree is intended for students not continuing in the Ph.D. program. Requirement is satisfactory completion of at least one year in that program. Special attention is given to the quality of papers submitted in course work. Applications for a terminal master's degree are not accepted.

Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Anthropology, Yale University, PO Box 208277, New Haven CT 06520-8277; 203.432.3665; e-mail, anthropology@yale.edu; Web site, www.yale.edu/anthropology.

Courses

ANTH 500a, Seminar in Social and Cultural Anthropology.  Harold Scheffler.
W 10–12
The major theoretical orientations in social and cultural anthropology (especially in the United States and Europe), their historical development and importance, their relation to one another and to other disciplines.

ANTH 500b, Seminar in Sociocultural Anthropology.  Thomas Blom Hansen.
T 9–12
This seminar continues the themes of ANTH 500, with special emphasis on the characteristics of anthropology as a discipline and as a profession and on the historical trajectory of sociocultural anthropology from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s. The seminar is reserved for first-year doctoral students in Anthropology, and students are presumed to have taken ANTH 500 in the fall.

ANTH 513a, Language, Culture, and Ideology.  J. Joseph Errington.
W 1.30–3.20
Influential anthropological theories of culture are reviewed with critical reference to theories of language that inspired or informed them. Topics include American and European structuralism, cognitivist and interpretivist approaches to cultural description, work of Bakhtin, Bourdieu, and various “critical theorists.”

ANTH 515a, Culture, History, Power, and Representation.  Helen Siu.
T 1.30–3.20
This seminar is a critical introduction to anthropological formulations of the junctures of meaning, interest, and power. Readings include classical and contemporary ethnographies that are theoretically informed and historically situated.

ANTH 541a, Agrarian Societies: Culture, Society, History, and Development.Michael Dove, Linda-Anne Rebhun, James Scott, Steven Stoll.
M 1.30–5.20
An interdisciplinary examination of agrarian societies, contemporary and historical, Western and non-Western. Major analytical perspectives from anthropology, economics, history, political science, and environmental studies are used to develop a meaning-centered and historically grounded account of the transformations of rural society. Team-taught. Also F&ES 753a, HIST 965a, PLSC 779a.

ANTH 562a, Topics in Chinese Anthropology and History.  Helen Siu.
W 1.30–3.20
The seminar explores the Chinese identity as it has been reworked over the centuries. It familiarizes students with major works in Chinese anthropology and their intellectual connections with general anthropology and historical studies. Topics include kinship and marriage, marketing systems, rituals and popular religion, ethnicity and state making, and the cultural nexus of power.

ANTH 575b, Urban Anthropology and Global History.  Helen Siu.
W 1.30–3.20
Urbanization processes in different historical times and places. Using a combination of literary works, historical narratives, and ethnographies, this seminar analyzes how migrants and urbanites with their unique cultural histories confront changes in the macro political economies that encapsulate them. The seminar focuses on the nature of migration, adaptive strategies, ethnicity, and political symbolism, the myth of marginality, the language of class, and culture conflict.

ANTH 581a, Society and Environment: Introduction to Theory and Method.  Michael Dove.
Th 2.30–5.20
Critical issues in the analysis of relations between society and environment. Topics include: (1) the identification of environmental “problems” focusing on the rationale of development intervention and failure, and the study of environmental discourse; (2) conceptual boundaries in resource-use systems and in conceptions of nature and culture; (3) conceptual boundaries in environmental relations between center and periphery and between the local and the global; (4) the sociology of science of environmental relations, encompassing views of indigenous knowledge, objective distance, scientific “forgetfulness,” and relations between the natural and social sciences; and (5) the implications of the foregoing for current critiques of science. Also F&ES 747a.

ANTH 587bu, The Anthropology of Sound.  John Szwed.
T 1.30–3.20
The socially mediated nature of sound, and the cultural consequences of technologies of sound transmission, modification, and recording. Topics include the pre- and post-industrial soundscapes; audio ethnography; the art of noise; synesthesia; problems of originality and plagiarism (covers, sampling, mixing, machine music, etc.); world music; audio imperialism and terrorism; musical utopias; imaginary soundscapes. Also AMST 763bu.

ANTH 592a, Anthropology and Classical Social Theory.  David Graeber.
W 1.30–3.20
The course is meant not only to introduce anthropology students to the founding works of Western social theory—the big names like Marx, Weber, and Durkheim—but also to place these authors in the context of the Western intellectual and cultural tradition from which they emerged and to discuss their ongoing relevance to anthropological thought. A central goal of the seminar is to identify ways of disarticulating the production of gender by examining how these roles are both naturalized and disrupted in local and global spheres.

ANTH 593a, Ethnographic Writing and Representation.  Kathryn Dudley.
W 1.30–3.20
This course examines the representational practices that inform the doing and making of ethnography, broadly construed as the depiction of social life in the past and present. We consider classic and contemporary approaches to ethnography as a literary form as well as explore precedents and possibilities in the visual and performing arts. Also AMST 746a.

ANTH 594b, Theories of Value in Anthropology.  David Graeber.
W 3.30–5.20
There is a broad feeling in anthropology that there is some level at which “values” in the sociological sense, “value” in the economic sense, and linguistic “value” in the Saussurean sense all come down to the same thing—and that a theory of value based on this insight holds out the promise of resolving many of the stickiest outstanding problems in social theory: most notably, the relation of individual desire and action with cultural meaning and social form. But it's not at all clear whether such a theory actually exists. In this course, students examine some contenders and work on developing such a theory.

ANTH 595a, Transnationalism, Modernity, and Diaspora.  Kamari Clarke.
W 3.30–5.20
As anthropologists continue to grapple with changing notions of “the field” from local to global, this course covers recent and emerging scholarship that explores theoretical problems of modernity, transnationalism, and diaspora in specific historical and ethnographic contexts. Drawing on a range of ideas from world systems theories of globalization to notions of the invention of diasporas, to postmodern ideas of social constructions, the emphasis is on the interrelations between local and global cultural processes. These processes disrupt the once homogenizing tendencies of ethnography and instead push us to examine different criteria for analyzing and constructing communities. Also AFAM 573a, AFST 695a.

ANTH 598b, Sustainable Development and Conservation: Advanced Readings in Social Theory.  Michael Dove, Carol Carpenter.
Th 2.30–5.20
An advanced seminar on the social science theory of sustainable development and conservation, intended for students interested in research design and policy planning in this field. It traces the conceptual history of the ideas of progress and development from the colonial period through the present and examines how these ideas are used by the parties who fund, design, and manage development projects, looking at both public expressions appearing in publications and underlying discourses. It also examines the response by local communities to development projects and compares development and conservation rationales with alternative local rationales. Finally, the linkage between the development project and the academy is examined. Students are expected to use the course to develop their own research and writing. Prerequisite: F&ES 747a or F&ES 757a. Enrollment limited to twelve. Also F&ES 759b.

ANTH 612b, Contemporary Social Theory.  Kamari Clarke.
W 3.30–5.20

ANTH 613b, Theory and Method in the Study of Sex.  Megan Sinnott.
Th 2–4
In this course sexuality is understood as a social, cultural, and historical phenomenon. An interdisciplinary approach to its study is used by exploring literature within the social sciences and humanities. Topics include the deconstruction of western cultural paradigms of sexuality, the relationship between researcher and research subjects, and sexual ethics in fieldwork. Each week focuses on a particular discipline or theoretical approach to the study of sexuality. Also WGSS 613b.

ANTH 630au, The Jazz Avant-Garde, 1955–1980.  John Szwed.
Th 1.30–3.20
The new forms of jazz that emerged shortly after the middle of the twentieth century (Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, et al.). Discussions include the economics and politics of the period, the achievements of the music, and the problems it raised for musical performance and criticism. Also AFAM 792au.

ANTH 680b, Anthropological Perspectives on Health and Social Change.  Linda-Anne Rebhun.
W 1.30–3.20
Explores the impact on physical and mental health of social and economic change, industrialization, and introduction of international capital. We examine such topics as medicine and colonialism, changes in population structure, diseases of development, the politics of health care, the health impact of environmental change in cultural context, and maternal and child health.

ANTH 701au, Foundations of Modern Archaeology.  Frank Hole.
TTh 9–10.15
Discusses how method, theory, and social policy have influenced the development of archaeology as a set of methods, an academic discipline, and a political tool. This course assumes a background in the basics of archaeology equivalent to one of the introductory courses. Also ARCG 701au.

ANTH 705Lbu, Archaeology Laboratory II.  Marcello Canuto.
W 1–4
Practical experience in preparation, analysis, and interpretation of artifacts and nonartificial archaeological data. Students undertake term projects. Also ARCG 705Lbu.

ANTH 732au and 733Lau, Archaeological Field Techniques and Archaeology Lab I.Marcello Canuto.
MW 9–10.15, Lab SA 9–5
An introduction to the practice and techniques of modern archaeology, including methods of excavation, recording, mapping, dating, and ecological analysis. The lab offers instruction in the field at an archaeological site in Connecticut in stratigraphy, mapping, artifact recovery, and excavation strategy. The courses must be taken concurrently and are counted together as 1 credit. Also ARCG 732au and 733Lau.

ANTH 738bu, Ethnoarchaeology.  Frank Hole.
W 1.30–3.20
A survey and critical examination of the uses of ethnographic, experimental, and replication studies for the archaeological interpretation of material culture and patterns of behavior. Also ARCG 738bu.

ANTH 740bu, Maya Archaeology.  Marcello Canuto.
T 1.30–3.20
Examination of current problems in Maya archaeology, epigraphy, iconography, and ethnohistory. Topics include the Preclassic, Classic, and Postclassic periods, the development and collapse of Classic Maya civilization, economic and political organization, warfare, and external relations. Also ARCG 740bu.

ANTH 745au, Landscape Archaeology.  Thomas Tartaron.
TTh 2.30–3.45
Examination of landscape as a powerful concept in archaeology, and the basis of a thriving research agenda within the discipline. The course traces the intellectual development of landscape perspectives in archaeology, from a primary concern with adaptive and economic aspects of human environment interactions to more recent interest in cognitive and culturally constructed landscapes. Case studies reveal a multiplicity of archaeological approaches. Permission from instructor required for non-archaeology/anthropology undergraduates. Also ARCG 745au.

ANTH 749b, Archaeology of the African Diaspora.  Lisa Collins.
Th 3.30–5.20

ANTH 751a,Topics and Issues in Archaeology.  Frank Hole.
W 1.30–3.20
This course focuses on important new discoveries and theories concerning the early stages of ritual, religion, and the emergence of social complexity in the greater Near East. We consider evidence from Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, and Iran for the period commonly referred to as the Neolithic. Also ARCG 751au.

ANTH 771a, Archaeology of Complex Societies.  Richard Burger.
T 10.30–12.20
A consideration of theories and methods developed by archaeologists to recognize and understand complex societies in prehistory. Topics include the nature of social differentiation and stratification as applied in archaeological interpretation; emergence of complex societies in human history; case studies of societies known ethnographically and archaeologically. Also ARGC 771au.

ANTH 777bu, The Origins of Agriculture.  Frank Hole.
TTh 1–2.15
The concepts and processes of domestication are examined in the context of archaeological examples from several regions of the world. Also ARCG 777bu.

ANTH 785au, Archaeological Ceramics I.  Thomas Tartaron.
W 3.30–5.20
This seminar focuses on archaeological, ethnographic, and ethnoarchaeological approaches to the study of archaeological ceramics that permit archaeologists to mine assemblages for information on the people and societies that made and used them. First part of two-part sequence with Archaeological Ceramics II. Students are expected to attend both. Also ARCG 785au.

ANTH 786bu, Archaeological Ceramics II.  Thomas Tartaron.
M 2–5, Th 4.30–5.20
This laboratory course introduces students to archaeometric characterization techniques for the study of archaeological ceramics. Hands-on experience with thin-section petrography and other techniques, including electron probe microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. Prerequisite: ANTH 785au/ARCG 785au (Archaeological Ceramics I). Also ARCG 786bu.

ANTH 803b, Reproductive Ecology of Humans and Nonhuman Primates.  Richard Bribiescas.
T 1.30–3.20
Survey of the current understanding of the physiology of reproductive function within the control of evolutionary and life history theory. Emphasis on population variation in female and male reproductive endocrinology as well as the sources of that variation.

ANTH 811a, Behavioral Endocrinology.  Richard Bribiescas.
T 1.30–3.20
This seminar examines the role of hormones in the evolution and expression of human and nonhuman primate behavior. Emphasis is placed on behaviors that are associated with aggression, stress, mating, and parenting. Advanced undergraduates are welcome with instructor's permission.

ANTH 822b, Topics and Issues in Human Evolution.  Andrew Hill.
Th 1.30–3.20
Topics from the span of primate evolution are covered: the early primates, origin of modern type primates, anthropoid origins, monkey and hominoid evolution. Readings and discussions focus on issues of taxonomy—judging morphological similarities and differences among fossils. Specific attention paid to traits paleontologists use to assign fossils to species and functional/behavioral significance of those traits. Lectures and lab use of fossils provide background on fossil evidence.

ANTH 849b, Primate Models for Human Evolution.  David Watts.
T 9.30–11.20

ANTH 856a, Reconstructing Human Evolution: An Ecological Approach. Andrew Hill.
Th 1.30–3.20
If human evolutionary change has been determined or affected by ecological factors, such as changes in climate, competition with other animals, and availability and kinds of food supply, then it is important to determine ecological and environmental information about the regions and time period in which human evolution has occurred. Examination of methods for obtaining data relevant to such information, and for evaluating the techniques and results of such other fields as geology, paleobotany, and paleozoology. Ethnographic, primatological, and other biological models of early human behavior.

ANTH 941a and b, Research Seminar in Japan Anthropology.  William Kelly.
HTBA
This seminar offers professional preparation for doctoral students in Japan anthropology through systematic readings and analysis of the anthropological literature, in English and in Japanese. Permission of the instructor required.

ANTH 942a and b, Research Seminar in South Asia Anthropology.  Helena Hansen.
HTBA
This ongoing research seminar explores critical texts in the anthropology and anthropography of South Asia. The seminar is designed for doctoral students specializing in some aspect of South Asia. Others with appropriate backgrounds and interests may be admitted in consultation with the instructor.

ANTH 951a, Directed Research in Ethnology and Social Anthropology.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 951b, Directed Research in Ethnology and Social Anthropology.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 952a, Directed Research in Linguistics.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 952b, Directed Research in Linguistics.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 953a, Directed Research in Archaeology and Prehistory.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 953b, Directed Research in Archaeology and Prehistory.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 954a, Directed Research in Physical Anthropology.
By arrangement with faculty.

ANTH 954b, Directed Research in Physical Anthropology.
By arrangement with faculty.

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