soan 160: anthropology of the body

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SOAN160:ANTHROPOLOGYOFTHEBODYWinter2019

DepartmentofSociologyandAnthropologyCarletonCollege

Instructor:Dr.MerylLauerEmail:[email protected]:233LeightonOfficeHours*:W:3:30-4:30pm;Th:1-3pm

*orbyappointment

ClassLocation:Leighton330MeetingTimes:M/W1:50-3:00pm

F2:20-3:20pm

“Thebodyisourgeneralmediumforhavingaworld.”

—MauriceMerleau-Ponty,PhenomenologyofPerception

WangechiMutuInKillingFieldsSweetButterflyAscend,2003

KikiSmithHowIknowI'mhere(4works),1985–2000

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COURSEDESCRIPTIONWeoftenthinkaboutourbodiesasnaturalandself-evident.But,whatbodiescandoandhowbodiesareunderstoodchangesdramaticallyacrosshistoricalandculturalcontexts.InmanyEuro-Americansocieties,weoperatefromanotionknownas“Cartesiandualism,”theideathatthemindandbodyareseparateentities,howeverinterrelated.Thisbasicassumptionprovidesthebasisforphilosophical,cultural,social,andpoliticalorientationstowardtheworld.But,therearemanywaystonegotiatetheporousnessbetweenbodiesandworlds.Inthisclass,weinvestigatehowhumanbodiesarevalued,transformed,andexperiencedaroundtheworld.Throughengagementswithethnographicresearchonsuchtopicsassportstraining,bodilymodificationandbeauty,andbiomedicaltechnologies,theclassdemonstrateshowbodiesarekeysitesforunderstandingpolitics,economics,andsocialchangeinourcontemporaryworld.Lectures,discussions,classmaterials,andassignmentsareallgearedtowardbroadeningyourunderstandingsofbodiesinmotion,inspace,andinstasis.Whilebodilyknowledgeiscentraltomanyacademicdisciplinesandperspectives,itisalsoyoursandalwayscontingent.Youwillhaveanopportunitytoengagethisknowledgethroughanthropologicaltheoryandmethod,demonstratingtheintersectionsofpracticeandtheory.COURSEGOALSYouwillunderstandthecoreconcepts,theories,andmethodsthatanthropologistsusetomakesenseofthebodyasmeansandmediumofculture.Youwilllearnadiversityofperspectivesonhumanbodiesandtheirrelationshiptotheirbroadersocialworlds.Youwillusetheseconceptsandperspectivestosynthesizeexperiencesinyoureverydaylife.Youwilldevelopandhonegoodresearch,reading,andwritingskills.LEARNINGOUTCOMESAspartofCarleton'sassessmentinitiative,theSOANDepartmenthasidentifiedsixStudentLearningOutcomesforSOANmajors.Inthiscourse,youwilllearnfouroftheseoutcomes:

1. Articulatethecomplexityofcontemporarysocio-culturalphenomenonintheirmanydimensions(e.g.temporal,structural,spatialandsymbolic).

2. Formulateappropriatesociologicaland/oranthropologicalresearchquestionsaboutsocio-culturalphenomena.

3. Applysociologicalandanthropologicaltheorytoanalyzesocio-culturalphenomena.4. Engagetheworldbydrawinguponyourunderstandingofhistoricaland

contemporarysocio-culturalphenomena.

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GRADINGANDASSIGNMENTSParticipationandAttendance 10%MoodlePosts 20%GroupReflections 20%(2/10%each)BodilyPracticeResearchProject 40%Allassignmentsandexamswillbediscussedinclassindetail.Iwilldistributeassignmentsheetsforallprojectswellinadvanceoftheirdeadlines.*YOUMUSTCOMPLETEALLCLASSASSIGNMENTSINORDERTOPASSTHECLASS.*GRADESCALEA+ 97–100% C+ 77–79%A 93–96% C 73–76%A− 90–92% C− 70–72%B+ 87–89% D+ 67–69%B 83–86% D 63–66%B− 80–82% D− 60–62% F <60%REQUIREDTEXTS

1. Farquhar,JudithandMargaretLock,ed.2007.BeyondtheBodyProper.DukePress.2. Brownell,Susan.1995.TrainingtheBodyforChina.UChicagoPress.3. Horton,Sarah.2016.TheyLeavetheirKidneysintheField.UCPress.

*Booksareavailableatthebookstoreforpurchase.

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COURSEMATERIALSASSISTANCEIrecognizethepotentialfinancialburdenofbooksandprinting.Ifyouneedassistancetocovercourseexpenses,pleasespeakwithme.LATEANDMAKE-UPPOLICYPleasenotethatIamverystrictaboutduedates.Unlessyouhavealegitimateexcuseforturninginanassignmentlateormissinganexam,Iwilleithernotaccepttheassignmentordeductpointsfromyourgrade.AlthoughIamcertainlysympathetictoemergencies,Idoaskyoutotrytoletmeknowwhatishappingbeforetheassignmentorexamcomesaroundinordertoavoidmisunderstandings.ACADEMICINTEGRITYYouareexpectedtoadheretoCarleton’scodeofacademichonesty.Evenintheeventofparticipatinginteamprojects,yourfinalworkshouldstillreflectyourownideasandotherpeople’sideasshouldalwaysbecredited.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthispolicypleasevisithttp://apps.carleton.edu/campus/doc/integrity/orcomespeaktome.FailuretofollowCarleton’sexpectationwillresultinafailinggradeandformalactionwiththeadministration.PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCEAtCarleton,weareextraordinarilyluckytohavesmallclasseswherestudentsandprofessorscancriticallyengageeachotherandclassmaterialinasubstantialmanner.But,thatcanonlyhappenifwecometoclass,cometoclassprepared,andcontributetoclassinaneffectivemanner.Wewillcollaboratetodecidewhatpreparednessandeffectivenessmeaninourclassroomatthebeginningoftheterm.Youareexpectedtobepresentinclassonaregularbasis;failuretodosowilladverselyaffectyourgrade.Attendancewillbetakeneachclass.PointswillbedeductedfromyourgradeafterTHREEabsences.Absenceswillbeconsideredexcusedonlyinthefollowingcases:illnessverifiedbyadoctor’snote,religiousobservance,orparticipationinscheduledactivitiesofofficialcollegestudentorganizations.Inallcases,pleasemakeeveryefforttoinformmeofyourimpendingabsencebeforeclass.Youareexpectedtoarrivetoclassontimeandstayforthedurationofclass.Ifyouaremorethanfiveminuteslateorifyouleavebeforetheconclusionofclasswithoutpriorpermission,youwillbecountedabsent.OFFICEHOURSANDCOMMUNICATIONSYoucansignupforofficehoursviamygooglecalendar.Ihopeyouwillallcomeseemeduringofficehourstodiscussthecourse,ideasforprojects,orcareerplans.InteractingwithstudentsisoneofmyfavoritepartsofmyjobsopleaseDONOTBESHYandtake

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advantageofofficehours!Ifyoucannotmakeofficehours,letmeknowandwecanalwaysscheduleanalternativetimetomeet.PleasenotethatIwilltrytoansweremailswithinadayandItendtonotansweremailsduringtheweekend.Finally,althoughIencourageyoutocontactmeviaemailwithquestions,iftheQuestionrequiresalonganswer,ImayaskyoutocomeseemepersonallysoIcangiveyouaproperresponse.ACCOMODATIONSFORSTUDENTSWITHDISABILITIESCarletonCollegeiscommittedtoprovidingequitableaccesstolearningopportunitiesforallstudents.TheDisabilityServicesoffice(HenryHouse,107UnionStreet)isthecampusofficethatcollaborateswithstudentswhohavedisabilitiestoprovideand/orarrangereasonableaccommodations.Ifyouhave,orthinkyoumayhave,adisability(e.g.,mentalhealth,attentional,learning,autismspectrumdisorders,chronichealth,traumaticbraininjuryandconcussions,vision,hearing,mobility,orspeechimpairments),[email protected],StudentAccessibilitySpecialist(x4464)orChrisDallager,DirectorofDisabilityServices(x5250)toarrangeaconfidentialdiscussionregardingequitableaccessandreasonableaccommodations.WRITINGASSISTANCETheWritingCenter,locatedin4204thLibe,haspeerwritingconsultantswhocanworkwithyouduringanystageofthewritingprocess(brainstormingtofinalproofreading).Hoursandmoreinformationcanbefoundonthewritingcenterwebsite.Youcanreservespecifictimesforconferencesin4204thLibebyusingtheironlineappointmentsystem.Walk-insarewelcome,thoughwriterswithappointmentshavepriority.Ifyouareasecondlanguagewriterandbelieveyoumightbenefitfromworkingindividuallywithawritingconsultantonaregularbasisthisterm,emailRenataFitzpatrick,MultilingualWritingCoordinator,callheratx5998,orstopbyherofficein420D4thLibe.Shecanarrangeonce-ortwice-a-weekmeetingsbetweenyouandawritingconsultantthroughouttheterm.STUDENTHEALTHCarletonCollegeurgesyoutomakeyourself—yourownhealthandwell-being—yourprioritythroughoutthisten-weektermandyourcareerhere.Ifyouarehavingdifficultiesmaintainingyourwell-being,feelfreetocontactmeand/orpursueotherresources,suchasStudentHealthandCounselingortheOfficeofHealthPromotion.

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CREATINGANINCLUSIVE&COMPASSIONATECLASSROOMMyprimarygoalasaneducatorandascholaristofosterajoyforlearningandpreparestudentsfortheirfutureprofessionalpaths.Althoughjoyful,theprocessisnotnecessarilyalwaysfunoreasy.Learningisaconvolutedprocessthatisdifficult,asitrequiresustopushourintellectuallimits,takerisks,andfaceour—andothers’—legaciesstraighton.The“reward”thatresultsfromthisprocessisnotalwaysreadilyapparentanditmaytakeyearstomanifest.Ialsobelievethatlearningshouldnotbepainfulorhurtfultothoseinvolvedintheprocess.IcanassureyouthatImakeaconsciousefforttoconsiderthepossibleconsequencesorimpactsofwhathappensinmycourses.TheproblemisthateventhoughItrytoavoidthesesituations,itisverydifficultforanyonetobeerror-free.Tryingtoaccommodateorpredictthereactionsofadiverseandever-changinggroupofindividualsthatventuretotakemyclassesisimpossibleandoverwhelmingattimes.Forthesereasons,abeliefintheacademicprocessandacommitmenttocreatingacompassionatelearningspace,Iavoidanexplicitpolicyofprovidingtriggerwarningsinmycourses.IwillgivesomebackgroundofthereadingsandwillcertainlygiveaheadsupwhencertainkindsofdifficultmaterialapproachesbutIwillnotgivetriggerwarnings.Inanutshell,thefundamentalreasonisthatwhatmighttoyoumeritanobvioustriggerwarningmaynotbeforothersandviceversa.Forexample,acommonoccurrenceinmycoursesisthatissuesofsexualviolencedepictedinaNorthAmericancontextwillelicitmultiplerequestsfortriggerwarning,yetmaterialthatdiscussesextremecasesofviolenceandgenocideinregionsoftheworldthatwerefertoastheGlobalSouthareconsumedbymostwithadryanalyticalstanceandalmostnoconsiderationoracknowledgementoftheemotionalimplicationsthismayhavetoothersintheroom(includingtheinstructororvisitor).Thisisaverydelicateissueandthereisnomagicbullet.WhatIaskyouistoengageinthisjourneywithmeandtrustme(andthismaymeangivingmeoryourpeersmultiplechances).Iwilldefinitelyaddressissuesthatarebroughttomyattentioninaconstructivemanner.Idomybesttoteachandmodelthemannerinwhichdifficultmaterialcanbeengagedwithintheclassroom,butmoreimportantlypleaseknowthatIamwillingtolearnwithyou,butthiscanonlyhappeninacompassionateandhonestenvironment.Ihopeyouarewillingtolearnwithmeaswell!

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READINGSCHEDULE• Assignedreadingsaredueinclassonthedaylisted.• PleasebringacopyofthereadingstoclassINHARDCOPY.• Otherthantherequiredbooks(bothavailableatthebookstore),allreadingswillbe

postedtomoodle.• Thisscheduleissubjecttochange.Pleasecheckmoodleforthemostup-to-date

readingsandassignments.Anychangeswillalsobeannouncedinclassorviaemail.7-Jan Introduction

9-Jan DoingAnthropologyoftheBodyMauss,Marcel."TechniquesoftheBody"inBeyondtheBodyProper

11-Jan EmbodimentandEthnographyFrankish,Keith.2016."Themindisn’tlockedinthebrainbutextendsfarbeyondit."Aeon.com:Jul7.

14-Jan HabitusandTrainingtheBodyBourdieu,Pierre.2004.“Thepeasantandhisbody.”Ethnography,Vol5(4),p.579-99.

16-Jan GuestLecture:TracieCanada

18-Jan SportsandTraining:AnthropologyofSportSelectionsfromWacquant,Loic.2006.BodyandSoul.OxfordUniversityPress.

21-Jan TrainingtheBodyforChina



28-Jan Groupmeetings

30-Jan IllnessGravlee,Clarence.2009."HowRaceBecomesBiology:EmbodimentofSocialInequality,"AmericanJournalofPhysicalAnthropology,Vol.139(1),p.47-57.Villarosa,Linda.2018."WhyAmerica'sBlackMothersandBabiesareinaLife-or-DeathCrisis),"TheNewYorkTimesMagazine,April11.Martin,Nina.2017."BlackMothersKeepDyingAfterGivingBirth.ShalonIrving'sStoryExplainsWhy,"NPR'sAllThingsConsidered,December7,7:51pm.

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1-Feb IllnessScheper-Hughes,NancyandMargaretM.Lock,"TheMindfulBody:AProlegomenontoFutureWorkinMedicalAnthropology"MedicalAnthropologyQuarterly,NewSeries,Vol.1,No.1(Mar.,1987),pp.6-41

4-Feb LaborThompson,E.P."Time,Work-Discipline,andIndustrialCapitalism"inBeyondtheBodyProper(495-511)Ong,Aihwa."TheProductionofPossession:SpiritsandtheMultinationalCorporationinMalaysia"inBeyondtheBodyProper(512-530)

6-Feb GroupMeetings

8-Feb TheyLeaveTheirKidneysintheField

11-Feb MidtermBreak



18-Feb Modification/BeautyTurner,Terence."TheSocialSkin"inBeyondtheBodyProper(83-106)

20-Feb Modification/BeautyTBD

22-Feb GroupMeetings

25-Feb InParts:DNALock,Margaret."AlienationofBodyPartsandtheBiopoliticsofImmortalizedCellLines"inBeyondtheBodyProper(567-583)

27-Feb InParts:OrganDonationHamdy,Sherine.2016.“AllEyesonEgypt:IslamandtheMedicalUseofDeadBodiesAmidstCairo’sPoliticalUnrest”MedicalAnthropology.

1-Mar InSpaceNASA’s(2017)“TheHumanBodyinSpace”Roach,Mary.2010.SelectionsfromPackingforMars.NortonPress.

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4-Mar InSpace:TheMartian

6-Mar InSpace:TheMartian

8-Mar InSpace/GroupMeetings

11-Mar ClassPresenations

13-Mar ClassPresentations

soan 160: anthropology of the body

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