ANSO 327(S) Reconceptualizing the "Individual"*

For the last twenty years, anthropological research has moved away from a concern with abstract cultural systems of meaning and toward an interest in the practices and interactions of persons or actors. This course looks at culturally specific conceptualizations of the person and topics often considered to be person-centered such as dreams, emotions, and autobiographical or life historical narratives. Classic works in anthropology, sociology and psychology are used to explore what has been meant by terms such as personhood, self, individual, actor, agency and identity. Recent ethnographies provide a means of looking at how person-centered topics are currently being studied through a focus on practices such as the narration of dreams, the telling of autobiographies and the performance of sentimental poetry. Throughout we will be asking questions such as how are the narration of dreams, autobiographical narratives and sentimental expressions effected by different types of social relations and how in turn do these performances effect social and political organization? Format: lectures and class discussion. Requirement: regular class participation, midterm paper (5 pages) and final paper (10 pages). No prerequisites.

Hour:  OAKDALE