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Peoples of the South Pacific Anthropology
3160 Anthropology
3160 Sec.100, Summer 2003 Instructor:
Mark A. Calamia, Ph.D. Tuesdays
and Thursdays 6:00 – 9:00 pm Hale
Science (Anthropology) 240 University
of Colorado at Boulder Home
Phone: 303.443.1185 Email:
markcalamia@hotmail.com Meetings
outside of class: By appointment Introduction and Course
Topics: The
Pacific Island Region has been the venue of numerous anthropological studies
since the early days of the discipline. The peoples of the Pacific are noted
for their involvement with explorers and the outside world and have had an
integral role in shaping their precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial
histories. The Pacific is a highly diverse world of change where adaptation,
incorporation, resistance, amalgamation, and accommodation to changing
circumstances have become a hallmark of this culture area. With that in mind,
the aim of this course is to present an overview of the ethnography, history,
and contemporary changes that characterize the diverse peoples and cultures of
this region. Ethnographic findings and anthropological analyses will provide an
understanding of the processes of change and conflict that have come to typify
this part of the world. A survey of the Pacific Region cannot occur without an
understanding of the history of the peoples and their islands. Therefore, we
will also address significant events and processes that have contributed to
shaping the social, cultural, economic, and political environment in which
Pacific Islanders find themselves today. Furthermore, the process of
globalization and its affect on small island communities of the far reaches of
the Pacific will be explored. As a way to meet these aims, this survey course
will closely follow the primary text Oceania:
An Introduction to the Cultures and Identities of Pacific Islanders by Strathern et al. (2002). The three major
subregions of the Pacific (The South-West Pacific, the Eastern Pacific, and the
West Central Pacific) will be examined by addressing the following topics
(Strathern et al. 2002:5): 1.
Basic information on the background in terms of prehistory, ecology, and
linguistics, as well as a basic account of colonial and post-colonial history. 2.
Basic patterns of ethnographic information, along with some detailed case
studies. 3.
Major patterns of change that have resulted from political and economic
development. 4.
The impacts of religious change, with special emphasis on Christianity and the
ways that people have transformed and applied Christianity in terms of
pre-existing forms of religious practices. 5.
The assertions of renewed cultural and political identity that have emerged as
a result of political, economic, and religious changes. This theme has become
well known in anthropological literature as ‘the politics of tradition’ or the
politics of culture and the cultural construction of traditions. Required Texts: There are three required
texts for the course, all of which have been ordered through the CU Bookstore.
The first two (shown below) are ethnographies that focus on the people of two
cultures within the region; the third is the textbook itself: Collaborations and
Conflicts: A Leader Through Time by Andrew Strathern and Pamela J. Stewart (Fort
Worth: Harcourt College Publishers, 2000).
Body, Self, and Society: A
View from Fiji
by Anne E. Becker (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1995). Oceania: An Introduction to the Cultures and Identities of Pacific
Islanders by Andrew Strathern, et al. (Durham:
Carolina Academic Press, 2002).
Videos: An important component of
this course will involve the viewing of various videos on the Pacific and its
cultures. Some of the earliest ethnographic and documentary production using
video media took place in the Pacific. A number of classic anthropological
videos dealing with various well-known topics and places in the Pacific will be
shown throughout this course. Discussion of most of these videos will follow
after each viewing or at the beginning of the next class. Class attendance is required
for all videos. Exam questions will be taken from the videos and the
discussions. Critical Appraisal of An
Ethnography: All
students must read the assigned ethnography
Body, Self, and Society: The View from Fiji by A.E. Becker and critically
appraise the study in terms of its theory, method, findings/results,
conclusions, and significance to anthropology. The paper should be 6-7 pages in
length, double-spaced, and written in 11 point font with Times Roman font
style. For consistency, all four margins should be 1 inch. Course Requirements: As an upper level
undergraduate anthropology course that is taught during a seven week schedule,
this course will present material from three primary sources: lectures, videos,
and class readings. Students are expected to attend class, take notes on
lectures and videos as well as complete all reading assignments by the
scheduled class dates. In addition, classroom participation is strongly
recommended. Exam questions will be based on all these sources. During
each class, a different student will be responsible for assisting and leading
the discussion of the readings of that day. Evaluation: There will be two in-class
essay exams that will cover material presented from each of the major sources
identified above. Each exam will cover material focusing on the half of the
course in which the material is presented (see schedule below). Each exam must
be written in a “blue book.” The exams will be weighted as follows: 1st
exam: 30%, 2nd exam: 30%. No makeup exams will be given so it is
incumbent upon each student to take the exams at the scheduled times. Class
participation will count 10% and will be based largely on class discussions.
The last assignment will be a critical appraisal of an ethnography that will
count 30% towards the final grade. All students are expected to abide by the
new CU, Boulder Honor Code. Special Considerations: If there are students with
disabilities that may affect learning, they will please notify me the first
week of classes of any special needs. Students may obtain help from Students
with Disabilities, Disability Services Office located in Willard 322 (phone: 303.492.8671).
The University of Colorado will make accommodations for persons with documented
disabilities. Schedule of Topics for Class
Discussion: The
following lecture topics, videos, and readings will cover the period from June
3rd through July 17th, 2003: Date Topic Reading 6/3 Introduction,
Pacific Region, geography, climate Strathern
et al.:3-7 Videos: Peopling of the Pacific: Last Horizons, First Contact 6/5 Southwest Pacific (Melanesia): Fiji,
New Caledonia, Strathern et al.:11-39 Solomon Islands, Vanuatu Video: Margaret Mead: Taking Note 6/10 New Guinea Strathern et al.:40-87 Video: Dead Birds 6/12 The Eastern Pacific (Polynesia): Concepts
and Strathern et al.:101-30 Central Themes Video: Legends of Easter Island 6/17 The Eastern Pacific and Contemporary Issues Strathern
et al.:130-67 Video: Troubled Paradise 6/19 Ethnography 1: Collaborations and Conflicts Strathern
and Stewart: Video: Ongka’s Big Moka
entire book
6/24 Exam
1 (2 hrs.) The West Central Pacific (Micronesia): Concepts and Strathern
et al. 183-99 Video: Cannibal Tours 6/26 West Central Pacific:Identity, Carolines, and Marianas Strathern et al.:199-214 Video: Strangers Abroad: Coming of Age; Margaret Mead 7/1 West Central Pacific: The Winds of
Change, Religious Change Strathern
et al.:214-30 Video: Mountain of Gold 7/3 West Central Pacific: Reification of
Culture and Politics of Strathern et al.:230-42 Tradition Video: Paradise Bent 7/8 Ethnography 2: Body, Self, and Society: The View From Fiji; Becker: Preface, 1-56 M. Calamia on Customary Marine Tenure in Fiji (slide
presentation) 7/10 Ethnography 2:Body,Self, and Society: The View From Fiji Becker 57-90 Video: Strangers Abroad: Off the
Verandah; Bronislaw Malinowski 7/15 Ethnography 2:Body, Self, and Society: The View From Fiji Becker 91-136 Video: Trobriand Cricket: An
Ingenious Response to Colonialism 7/17 Exam II (2 hrs.),
Critical Appraisal of Body, Self, and
Society: The View From Fiji due,
slide show by M. Calamia on Economy and Development of Kadavu Island Group,
Fiji, concluding thoughts and remarks on the Pacific Island Region
Upload: 6/23/2003 | |
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