Fall Semester 2004
Jeffrey Vanderziel

First Cycle: Cultural Studies

This course will examine the history, culture, traditions and other aspects of the aboriginal inhabitants (i.e. Native Americans) of Canada and the United States. The course will focus on two main areas of Native American culture, society and history: ”traditional” culture (the political, religious, social, economic in each of the major cultural regions); and the prehistoric development of Native American cultures together with the history of Native American contact with European society. Within each region, we will be examining the major cultural characteristics which the groups in that area had in common (including economy, social structure, political organization, art) as well as examining a specific group or groups from that area in a more in-depth fashion. This will be accomplished in part through the readings and the use of video materials.

A wide variety of materials will be used, including anthropological, ethnographic, historical and archaeological readings, as well as some historical accounts about Native Americans and representative myths and legends from the regions in question. The most up-to-date materials can be found at the web page for this course: http://www.phil.muni.cz/~vndrzl/indians/aj17050.htm. In addition, video material will also be used, mostly documentary. Most of the readings are collected together in a course reader which is available in the SAC and will gradually be made available on the web over the course of the semester. Additional materials will also be available in the SAC or on the web page.

As a bonus, I will be showing four films (2 feature films and 2 documentaries) as a part of my 2nd cycle course on Native Americans. I will announce the specific dates as they approach.

Requirements

Students will be expected to come to all seminar sessions, complete the assigned reading and come to class with questions or comments relevant to the reading.

For all students taking this course there in-class written exam, based on both material presented in seminar and the readings, which is given during the exam period in January. The exam has several sections, including multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the blank, identifications and short answers. The exam lasts two hours. For students taking this course for credit, this is all the required work. For students taking this course with an exam, there is a take-home essay (4-6 pages).

Schedule

Weeks 1: Course Introduction; The Cultural Complexity of North America, Languages

Week 2: Arctic (Part I)

Week 3: Arctic (Part II), Sub-Arctic

Week 4: Northwest Coast (Part I)

Week 5: Northwest Coast (Part II), California (Part I)

Week 6: California (Part II), Great Basin

Week 7: Southwest (Part I)

Week 8: HOLIDAY

Week 9: Southwest (Part II)

Week 10: Great Plains

Week 11: Eastern Woodlands: Southeast and Mississippi River Valley (Part I)

Week 12: Eastern Woodlands: Southeast and Mississippi River Valley (Part II)