Syllabus (ANTHROPOLOGY)

Course Type: MAJ-3

Semester: 3

Course Code: BANTMAJ03T

Course Title: Thoughts & Theories in Anthropological studies

(L-P-Tu): 6-0-0

Credit: 6

Practical/Theory: Theory

Course Objective: Anthropological theory seeks explanation and understanding of the human condition. Anthropological theories are statements specifying relationships between concepts that explain or provide understanding of occurrences in the human condition. To understan

Learning Outcome: The students will learn about the classical theories of culture like evolutionism, diffusionism and culture area. They will learn about historical particularism and neo-evolutionism. They will also learn about functionalism, structuralism and other more r

SEMESTER – III 1 Course x 6 credits = 6 credits

Total Marks: 50 (40 term exam + 10 internal assessment)

BANTMJ03T: Thoughts & Theories in Anthropological studies

Unit – I: Theory: Definition and importance of framing theory; Boundaries of theory; Importance of studying theory in Social Sciences at large and Social-Cultural Anthropology in particular.

Unit - II: Evolutionary Theory: Basic Postulates, Contributions of Tylor, Maine, and L.H. Morgan. criticism of Classical Evolutionary Theory.

Unit - III: Diffusional Theory: British School, German School and American School and Contribution of Franz Boas.

Unit - IV: Functional Theory, Contribution of Malinowski on Biological Functionalism, Theory of need, field work and economic anthropology.

Unit - V: Structural-Functionalism: Contribution of Radcliffe Brown, Evans Pritchard, Nadel, Leach and Firth.

Unit - VI: Psychological Anthropology: Sigmound Freud, Margarate Mead, Ruth Benedict, Kardiner, Linton and Cora-du-Bois.

Unit – VII: Symbolic and Interpretative approach: Clifford Geertz; Thick description

References

Applebaum, H.A. 1987. Perspectives in Cultural Anthropology. Albany: State University of New York.

McGee, R.J. and Warms R.L. 1996. Anthropological Theories: An Introductory History.

Moore, M. and Sanders T. 2006. Anthropology in Theory: Issues in Epistemology, Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Barnard, A. 2000. History and Theory in Anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University.

Barnard, A., & Spencers, J. 2002. The Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology. London: Routledge

Behura, N. K. 1988. Anthropological Thought and Theories. Kolkata: Institute of Social Research and Applied Anthropology

Gordon, R., Lyons, A. P. and Lyons, H. D. 2015. Fifty Key Anthropologists. London: Routledge

Jha, M. 1994. An Introduction To Anthropological Thought. South Asia Books

Moore, M. and Sanders, T. 2006. Anthropology in Theory: Issues in Epistemology, Malden,MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Radcliffe-Brown, A. R. (1965) Structure and function in primitive society; essays and addresses. New York: The Free Press

Tylor, E. B. (1958) Primitive Culture. New York: Harper.

Upadhyay, V. S. and Pandey, G. (1997) History of Anthropological Thought. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company.