This course will offer an introduction to the discipline of anthropology—the art and science of the study of humankind. Although anthropology as a whole is composed of four subfields(archaeology, cultural anthropology, anthropological linguistics and biological anthropology), this class will focus on cultural anthropology—that subfield dealing with the study of human society and culture. Throughout the quarter we will examine the diversity of human cultures, the variety of anthropological theories used to study them, and the expansive world of human issues that may sometimes challenge yet enrich our own cultural knowledge. A number of class activities and assignments will emphasize the importance of understanding how anthropology can assist us in critically thinking about our own social and subject positions. A specific focus of the class is applying anthropological ideas to our real lives, including our experiences in consumer society. Instructor: Scott A. Lukas