2013 Introduction to Anthropology – Four Fields
Introduction to Anthropology with “What Does it Mean to be Human?”; “Labor and Legality”; and “Applying Anthropology.” Biological, Archaeology, Culture.
education
Race IQ – Game Over: It was always all about wealth
The publication of “Race, IQ, and Wealth” by Ron Unz effectively is game over for Race IQ peddlers–it was always about wealth & inequality.
Jared Diamond won’t beat Mitt Romney
The really scary part of the Diamond Romney dustup is how Romney recaps Diamond: European imperialism is accidental but societies choose to fail.
DNA Battles
Research on earliest Americans reveals multiple migrations and complexity. But Nicholas Wade botches the coverage–and the anthropology.
Review: What Does It Mean to Be Human? (2nd edition)
For a four-field introductory course, I reviewed the Anthropology Second Edition: Lavenda & Schultz, What Does It Mean to Be Human?
Assessing Anthropology (2012)
Anthropology excels at student learning outcomes assessment, but with awareness of the gap between assessment ideals and reality.
Liberal Arts Anthropology
Anthropology is a growing field with many useful contributions. Anthropology’s world-changing approach is well connected to the liberal arts.
Ain’t it a little late in the game to throw your hand in?
A post from 2012 describing the options.to closing a neighborhood school. As Little Steven says: “Ain’t it a little late in the game to throw your hand in?”
fellow passengers in this world of ours
On the sorely-felt need for humility, empathy, and sympathy. On science, intelligence, Adam Smith, economics, Wealth of Nations, Theory of Moral Sentiments.
The Cost of Savings
Fighting the planned closing of a neighborhood school based on a false economy of market-based choices and political expediency. The cost of saving schools.
Elizabeth Brumfiel, In Memoriam
Dr. Elizabeth Brumfiel, Professor of Anthropology & Archaeology at Northwestern University and an inspiring scholar, will be greatly missed.
Metaphors & Evolution
How can we stop trellises from turning into trees? Emphasizing non-directionality and complexity in evolutionary understandings.
Capitalism, Denisovans, Anthropology in Media
Free PowerPoint for “Anthropology and Moral Optimism”; Denisovan admixture update; AAA news and the 2011 Anthropology in Media Award.
Anthropology in Florida
The undergraduate anthropology major is a hidden strength: it is where the anthropological message is potentially the most world-changing.
Columbus Day: Everybody’s Working Through the Weekend
Anthropology on Columbus Day: As painful as it is to re-examine Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend” (even in ironic mode), something seems awry in academia
Admixture All the Way Down
Despite Nicholas Wade’s emphasis on splits among human groups, the research is clear that it’s admixture all the way down. Plus some Malinowski!
Oh no I’ve said too much
Re-listening to R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion” as a professor teaching evolution in front of a classroom: Oh no I’ve said too much / I haven’t said enough.
Anthropology 101 in 2011
This post on Anthropology 101 in 2011 was a call to action for introductory courses to address the big themes of Human Nature, Race, & Evolution.
Loving Anthropology
Loving anthropology for the questions it asks, the way anthropologists search for answers, and the importance of the answers to our world.
Anthropology Textbooks: Doubling down on culture?
Kottak and Gezon’s Culture uses a magazine-style textbook to double down on culture in anthropology. That’s problematic–culture is already everywhere.