PEOPLES OF THE PACIFIC
ANTHROPOLOGY 339
Class Meets: 2:15-3:30 TR Professor: Dr. J. Nourse 112 Puryear 108 Puryear Hall
Office Hours: 3:45-5:00 TR
3-5 M (or by appointment)

 


REQUIRED TEXTS:
Photocopy Packet: Selected Readings
Kenneth Read-- The High Valley
Margaret Mead--Sex and Temperament
Albert Wendt--Sons for the Return Home

COURSE OUTLINE:
This course focuses on the peoples and cultures of the South Pacific (also known as Oceania). The region is divided up into three sections--Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. Melanesia is regarded as a very distinct cultural entity from Micronesia and Polynesia. Melanesia is popularly regarded as the land of the cannibals while Micronesia and Polynesia have long been regarded as the sexually free, stereotypically romantic South Seas Islands. Though anthropologists try to avoid these stereotypes, they have unwittingly reinforced them in many cases. In this course we will look at the way anthropologists' ideas have been influenced by public perceptions of what the South Seas are. We will also look at the writings of various Pacific nationals and what their view of their own culture and the anthropologists who study them is. Because the romantic ideas about the Pacific have more often than not included ideas about sexuality, we will be reading some fairly racy material (toward the end of the semester). We will also rely on your reviews and reports about books and articles on the Pacific to round out our readings.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
a) 1 Ten Page Paper and presentation on one of several preselected books. You will be expected to present your paper to the class on the designated date. The paper and presentation will be worth 25% of your grade.
b) 1 Midterm Exam. The test will consist of 10 short essay questions worth 5 points each and 2 long essay questions worth 25 points each. The short essays will come from class discussions. The long essays will be selected from 5 questions. The test is worth 25% of Grade.
c) 1 Final Exam emphasizing the important material in the first part of the course and detailed
coverage of the material in the second part of the course. The exam will be given in the same format as the Midterm. The test is worth 30% of Grade.
d) Class Attendance and Discussion. You will be expected to be present for each class and to discuss the assigned readings for that day. Attendance and discussion are worth 20% of Grade.

ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE HONOR CODE!!