This course introduces the key concepts, methods, and theoretical debates of cultural anthropology. Cultural anthropologists listen to, record, and attempt to represent the voices and perspectives of the multiple communities that make up our world - whether cultural, social, religious, or national. Through the systematic and in-depth qualitative study of different societies, cultural anthropologists strive to see the world through the eyes of others and contribute to our understanding of what it means to be human. A core tenant of cultural anthropology is respect for diversity. When we understand cultural and social difference, we are better able to respect diversity and navigate our interconnected, multicultural world. For this reason, cultural anthropology also concerns itself with the dynamics of class, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, race, religion, and nationality. In this class, students examine case studies from a range of geographic and cultural areas throughout the world and engage with the tools and methods used by cultural anthropologists, including application of the ethnographic method to a research project.

This course participates in the Ethnography of the University Initiative (EUI) at the University of Illinois through the Ethnographies of Parkland Student Life project.

This course also participates in the Global Studies Initiatives in Social Sciences project.