Anthro 116
Prof. Varisco
Fall 2000
 
 
Sample Concept Notes
 
In order to give you an idea of what I would consider comprehensive notes on a concept, I offer the following. If the concept was "Nuer view of totemism" your primary source of information would be Nuer Religion by Evans-Pritchard, esp. pp. 127-128, 132-135. There is also a concise summary of the concept by Pals (p. 212). For a general definition of "totemism" take a look at the entry in Levinson (pp. 247-249). I could either jot down notes as I read along or read and then go back over for specific information on the concept.
 
• Nuer View of Totemism
• Totemism: idea that a social group (e.g., clan = group of people from a common ancestor) has symbolic relationship with element of nature (usually an animal).
• General features of totemism (see Levinson, p. 248)
• Durkheim and Freud thought totemism was origin of religion
• Nuer define totem spirits as "spirits of the below" -- not as important in society as Kwoth or spirits of the air (like Deng=rain spirit)
• Common Nuer totems are: crocodile, lion, lizard, snake, plants, rivers (See Pals, p. 212); some totems can be imaginary creatures (p. 135)
• Nuer taboos: don't eat totem animal, bury it if you find a dead one
• Nuer believe clan ancestor and totem animal were twins (this was like a miracle in which Kwoth was revealed in the totem relationship)
• EP's interpretation: Nuer say totem animal is only "spirit" (Kwoth) for members of totem clan (p. 127); the totem is a "refraction" of Kwoth for members of the totem's clan (p. 133); real relation is not just between clan and totem but both of these and Kwoth (p. 133) and he calls this an "elliptical statement' (p. 125) (need to look up word in dictionary or ask professor in class)
• Like Durkheim -- "totem" is symbol of solidarity of clan, what unites them as a group in relation to other clans (with other totems) -- sort of like a mascot but one that is taken seriously and has strict taboos about behavior
• Interesting that totemism for Nuer is not the main type of spirit, since Durkheim and Freud thought it was the real basis for religion -- shows why it is important to collect real data on primitive religion before speculating off the cuff
 
STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM #3
(to be held on 12/19 from 10:30-12:30 in 100 Heger)
 
The questions on Exam #3 will be based on key concepts, ideas, and approaches covered in class from 11/2/00 through 12/7/00. It is important to know not only the "definition," but also be able to provide an example from the course or apply the idea to something new. NOTE: I will add three extra bonus questions on your third exam, so there will be a question for each of the concepts listed below. I will choose questions from the following key issues for this exam.
 
• Biblical Basis for Serpent Handling
• Legal Status of Serpent Handling
• Motivation of Serpent Handlers
• Basic Features of Contemporary Pentecostalism
• Role of "Speaking in Tongues" in Pentecostalism
• "Freudian" Explanation of Serpent Handling
• Conklin's argument about Role of Kinship in Wari' Mortuary Cannibalism
• Therapeutic role of Mortuary Cannibalism among Wari' Mourners
• Basic Differences between Catholic and Protestant NTM and Adventist Missionaries
• Wari' View of the Afterlife Cycle
• Religious significance of menstrual taboos worldwide (Levinson)
• Major differences between magic and religion (Levinson)
• Main features of "New Age" religions
 
STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM #2
(to be held on 10/31/00)
 
The questions on Exam #2 will be based on key concepts, ideas, and approaches covered in class from 10/10/00 through 10/26/00. It is important to know not only the "definition," but also be able to provide an example from the course or apply the idea to something new. I will choose questions from the following key issues for this exam.
 
• Geertz' definition of "culture" (see both Pals chapter and his article)
• social symbolism of Rangda and Barong epic ritual (Geertz article)
• social symbolism of Eve in Judaic Yahwist perspective (Sanday article)
• social role of magic in Yanomamo "Myth of Naro"
• cross-cultural belief in high god or monotheism (Levinson)
• cultural contexts associated with polytheism
• main features of British "functionalist" approach of Evans-Pritchard
• Evans-Pritchard's concept of "social refraction"
• Nuer concept of "cuong"
• Nuer concept of "Kwoth"
• Evans-Pritchard interpretation of Nuer belief that "twins are birds"
• cross-cultural features of totemism (Levinson)
 
 
STUDY GUIDE FOR EXAM #1
(to be held on 10/10/00)
 
The questions on Exam #1 will be based on key concepts, ideas, and approaches covered in class through 10/3/00. It is important to know not only the "definition," but also be able to provide an example from the course or apply the idea to something new. I will choose questions from the following key issues for this exam.
 
o problems in defining "religion" (emphasis on comments in Pals introduction)
o what anthropologists emphasize in defining religion (see "Definitions of Religion" in A116 Reader)
o Marx' critique of Western religion as "pure illusion"
o Pals' critique of Marx' approach to religion
o Freud's explanation of religion
o Freud's view on totemism and origin of incest
o Tylor's view of the rationality of myth
o Tylor's theory of animism as origin of religion
o Max Müller's idea of myth as "disease of language"
o Frazer's distinction between magic and science
o Pals' critique of 19th century evolutionary approaches to religion
o Common features of soul belief cross-culturally, according to Levinson
o Durkheim's view of "sacred and profane"
o Durkheim's explanation of "function" of religion
o Leach's approach to ritual as communication
o Main stages of "Rites of passage" or life-cycle initiation rites
o Distinction between shamans and priests, according to Levinson
o Oglala views on traits of true "Yuwipi" man
 
Suggestions for Studying:
 
o Keep notes on the issues listed above as you read about them or hear about them in class lectures. One way to do this is to write each issue at the top of a file card or sheet of paper and jot down notes that will serve as a study guide for the concept exam.
o I will be glad to look over your notes to make suggestions (except at the last minute before the exam!). The best way to do this is to make an appointment and come to my office, where we can go over them together.
o If you do not understand the idea from the reading or as it is discussed in the relevant class, you should either ask for clarification in that class, email me or come and see me in my office.
 
NOTE: If you choose not to prepare seriously for the exam, you will probably not do well on it.