This course primarily adopts Cultural Anthropology: Appreciating Cultural Diversity by C.P. Kottak, translated by Xu Yucun, as the main reading material. In addition, selected chapters from various books and journal articles serve as supplementary readings to provide a broader perspective on anthropological studies.
The course aims to equip students with a fundamental understanding of anthropology by achieving the following objectives:
- Understanding the core concepts of anthropology.
- Learning how anthropologists conduct research on their subjects.
- Recognizing the close relationship between culture and everyday life.
- Gaining insight into their own cultural traditions, leading to a better understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.
- Understanding the similarities, differences, and complementary aspects between anthropology and other social sciences.
To deepen their understanding, students undertook an individual fieldwork project during the semester. Each student selected a grandparent or an elder from the same generation as their interview subject and chose a specific social institution—such as marriage, family, politics, or economy—as the focus of their study. Through in-depth interviews, students reconstructed the past state of the chosen institution and compared it with its present-day form. This comparative analysis allowed them to examine the processes and factors contributing to the institution’s transformation over time.
By engaging in both theoretical learning and hands-on research, students developed a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity and social change. The course successfully fostered critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling students to connect anthropological concepts with real-life cultural phenomena.