21A.00 | Spring 2013 | Undergraduate

Introduction to Anthropology

Course Description

Through the comparative study of different cultures, anthropology explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human. It seeks to understand how culture both shapes societies, from the smallest island in the South Pacific to the largest Asian metropolis, and affects the way institutions work, from …
Through the comparative study of different cultures, anthropology explores fundamental questions about what it means to be human. It seeks to understand how culture both shapes societies, from the smallest island in the South Pacific to the largest Asian metropolis, and affects the way institutions work, from scientific laboratories to Christian mega-churches. This course will provide a framework for analyzing diverse facets of human experience such as gender, ethnicity, language, politics, economics, and art.

Course Info

Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments
Two men engaging in capoeira martial arts on a beach. The man on the right is performing a high kick, and the man on the left has his arms extended upward and is using his foot to trip his opponent.
These two men are practicing capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. As part of this class, capoeira is studied as an example of expressive culture and identity. (Photograph courtesy of flickr user archangel12. CC-BY.)