ANTHROPOLOGY 1AB3: Religion and Cultural Appropriation

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ANTHROPOLOGY 1AB3: Religion and Cultural Appropriation

The Assignment questions:

For this assignment, you may choose to answer ANY ONE of the following two questions. Please pick a topic that you are interested in J:

1. Witchcraft

In our lectures and readings on world view/spirituality/religion, we will discuss the concept of witchcraft. Find one (and only one) peer reviewed journal article in either an anthropology journal or written by an anthropologist on witchcraft in one particular society. There are no date restrictions here (eg. written between 1980 and 2000), etc. Remember that your journal article has to be a full journal article (20 pages each, on average – which means between 10 and 30 pages), and NOT a book review in a journals, or review articles (which are short and the title usually contains the phrase “Review of…”). If you are unsure, then ask your TA. Read your journal article.  Using the material from your article, combined with course material (readings, lectures, films, etc.) answer the following question: Why do people in this society believe in witchcraft?

Note: You cannot use any additional material beyond the one journal article and course readings/material to answer this question. This is because we want you to write a close analysis/reading/interpretation of your case study of witchcraft in a particular society. 

Also: It will be more difficult (but not impossible!) to find articles about “Western” societies eg. Europe, or Salem that are anthropological.  Try societies in Africa, Papua New Guinea, Indigenous cultures of the America, etc.

2. Religion and Cultural Appropriation

In our lectures and readings on world view/spirituality/religion, we will discuss the concept of cultural appropriation. Find ONE (and only one) peer reviewed journal article in either an anthropology journal or written by an anthropologist on the cultural appropriation of religious/spiritual concepts or objects in one particular society. There are no date restrictions here (eg. written between 1980 and 2000), etc. Remember that your journal article has to be a full journal article (20 pages each, on average – which means between 10 and 30 pages), and NOT a book review in a journals, or review articles (which are short and the title usually contains the phrase “Review of…”). If you are unsure, then ask your TA. Read your journal article.  Using the material from your article, combined with course material (readings, lectures, films, etc.) answer the following question: What is cultural appropriation and why is it a contentious issue in your specific case study (ie. journal article)?

Note: You cannot use any additional material beyond the one journal article and course readings/material to answer this question. This is because we want you to write a close analysis/reading/interpretation of your case study of witchcraft in a particular society.