REL 310(F) Ethnography of Religion (Same as Anthropology 310)

This course is a critical introduction to content, theory, and methodology in the ethnography of religion. We will examine selected ethnographies that focus on a variety of religious settings, and discuss the practical, methodological, and ethical issues related to the ethnography of religion. Four broad questions will dominate our discussions: 1) What is ethnography, and how can it be used to describe religion cross-culturally? 2) What are the strengths and limitations of ethnography as an approach to the study of religion, and can ethnographic studies of religion offer something that historical, sociological and/or fictional approaches cannot? 3) What are the theoretical, practical, and stylistic tools needed to fashion compelling ethnographies that get to the heart of what it means to be human in different social and religious settings? 4) What are the ethical and political implications of representing religion in fieldwork studies? We will consider works by the following authors: William James, Clifford Geertz, Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Deren, Janice Boddy, Renato Rosaldo, James Spickard, Marla Frederick, and Elizabeth Bowen. We will also view excerpts of films during the semester with options for full viewing at additional meetings.
Format: seminar. Requirements: evaluation will be based on short, weekly reflection papers, thoughtful interaction, one critical book review (5- to 7-pages), and one mini-ethnography (10- to 15-pages).
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 15). Open to all.

Hour: MANIGAULT