SEMESTER AT SEA/UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Course Syllabus – Spring 2005 – Mary Magoulick

Anth 1776: Myth, Symbol and Ritual

Class Meeting Schedule:  DAY B – 10:45 – 12:00

Required Texts

Dundes, Alan. Sacred Narrative: Readings in the Theory of Myth. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1984. (ISBN#: 0520051920; COST: $19.95)

Guss, David M. To Weave and Sing: Art, Symbol and Narrative in the South American Rain Forest. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990. (ISBN#: 0520071859; COST: $19.95)

Sproul, Barbara. Primal Myths: Creation Myths Around the World. San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco, 1979. (ISBN#: 0060675012; COST: $18.95)

Turner, Victor. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Aldine de Gruyter, 1995, Reprint edition (ISBN#: 0202011909; COST: $16.95)

Reserve Library List (recommended for research purposes)

David I. Kertzer, David I. Ritual, Politics, and Power. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989.

Berghaus, Gunter & Richard Gough (eds). On Ritual (Performance Research , Vol 3, No 3). New York: Routledge, 1999.

Harvey, Graham. Shamanism: A Reader. New York: Routledge, 2002

Podolefsky, Aaron & Peter J. Brown (eds.). Applying Cultural Anthropology: An Introductory Reader. McGraw-Hill, 2002.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

We will explore the meaning of myths, symbols and rituals in the cultures we visit from a variety of perspectives: historical, anthropological, and artistic. Our focus will be on creation myths and related symbols and rituals. Myths, symbols and rituals relate to each other intricately in many cultures. We will read origin myths from all the cultures we visit, especially considering their symbolism, looking for patterns. We will also study specific rituals (through field trips as well as readings), examine related art and history associated with myths and rituals, and read and discuss theoretical issues connected to myth, symbol and ritual. Students will take advantage of the many fieldwork possibilities associated with our voyage and connected to our class. Much of the fieldwork (perhaps tea ceremonies in Japan, Korean shamanic dance, Cuban Santeria rituals, etc.) will demonstrate the vitality and sometimes syncretic nature (mixing specific religious influences) of rituals today. We will use the particulars we encounter to better understand theories, genres, and associated concepts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

As a result of this course, students will be able to do the following:

*  Distinguish major genres, periods, examples, and issues in the study of myth, symbol, and ritual.

*  Evaluate the symbolic, artistic, historical, and theoretical significance of certain representative examples of myths and their related rituals;

*  Be familiar with major related theoretical strands from anthropology, folklore, history, literature, and religious studies;

*  Show awareness of myth, ritual, and symbol in biographical, historical, artistic, and intellectual contexts.

*  Practice ethnographic observation, note-taking, and analysis of field based excursions and projects, while situating this practice within relevant theory and context.

*  Articulate several thoughtful written responses and substantial final written critical arguments that require analytical, synthetic discussion of myths, rituals, and symbols.

METHODS OF EVALUATION

Participation (incl. practica completion):  10%            Observation (“field report”) essays:            20%

Critical, Synthetic Essays (20% each):      40%            In-Class Essay Exams (10% each):   30%

1)      In-class participation and discussion based on regular reading assignments, films, and in-port experiences. Students are required to attend class regularly and participate actively in class discussions. Students will lose points for poor attendance or poor participation. Students must demonstrate participation in required field practica to receive all participation points.

2)      Three short in-class essay exams over class and port material. The tests will include several highly focused questions over readings, concepts, and cultures studied up to that point.

3)      Two short written reports/evaluations of ritual and symbolism observed or experienced during practica (“in-port written responses”; 2-3 pages each). These may include descriptive writing, analytical observations of particular events or places, or comparative analyses of how the place as experienced by students matches descriptions or discussions of related class concepts and readings. At least one of these essays should focus on observed ritual. One may focus on symbolism or myth.

4)      Two synthetic critical discussion essays (3-5 pages) that offer comparative analysis of observed in-port or shipboard rituals and relevant readings. At least one of these essays should incorporate some fieldwork (based on interviews, observation, field notes etc.). Students should discuss topics with the instructor.

FIELD COMPONENT

In-port work will be essential to class concepts, discussions, and readings throughout the semester. Students will be required to participate in at least three relevant in-port field experiences. These may take the form of observing or participating in rituals in various cultures we visit. Students may also consider field experiences of visits to museums or cultural centers that allow them to view artifacts and art associated with myth and ritual, to consider issues of symbolism.

Students will be required (or at least encouraged) to make field-based observations or to have meetings and discussions with people in various ports in order to determine more about ritual and symbol in those cultures. Students will write two fieldwork-based or observation essays on ritual, symbol or myth as experienced or discussed in ports of call and compared with readings. Students will discuss such observations and insights in class and in essays and exams for the class.

Complete three of the following activities to synthesize readings with real life experiences in the various countries (note that many of the practica options below provide opportunities to carry out these assignments):

1. Observe or participate in a ritual (tea ceremony, shamanic dance, yoga, rites of passage, market hawking, etc.) in any of the cultures we visit. Be sure to take careful field notes and recordings, photographs or other relevant documentation.
2. Participate in a museum or cultural event visit in any country that allows you to observe symbolic representation of mythic or ritual belief systems. Be sure to take notes and make other appropriate documentation of relevant information (some museums or performers may not allow photography or other recording for example – so get permission). If documentation is not possible on site, be sure to take notes as soon afterward as possible.
3. Carry out 2 short fieldwork projects or observation of symbolism of ritual or myth in one or more of our countries. This could involve tape or video recorded interviews with participants in ritual activities, storytellers, artists, or other relevant people on subjects connected to our class. You might also consider carrying out a fieldwork project by observing our own rituals, for instance noting the SAS adventure trips as a kind of ritualized and symbolic interaction with nature. You might also take notes of observed ritual or symbolic behavior or displays connected to myth and ritual in port and use these notes as a source for an analytical, synthetic discussion of class topics.

Participate in at least three of the following practica (others that could count as well; see me)

KOREA:   Tongdosa Temple (either)

        Bomosa Temple & Busan City

            Hainsa Temple and Daegu

Cultural Hglts of Gyeongju                                           

Andong

Jeju Island 

JAPAN:     Nara, Kyoto, or Hiroshima

        Buddhist Temples of Kyoto

Rokko Mntn Hike/Pblc Bath

CHINA:  Hangzhou

Any Tai Chi event

Any Beijing/Great Wall Trip

      HONG KONG: Buddhist Mnstry/Lantau

Acupuncture / Chinese Med

VIETNAM: Cu Chi Tunnels/Temple

City’s Temples & Churches

Cambodia: Temples Angkor

INDIA:   Any trip/event practicing YOGA

Kancheepuram/Mamallapuram

Any visit to temples or theaters

KENYA:     Bombolulu Handicraft Center

                  Wasini & Kisite Island Dhow

                  Kenya Marineland & Arab Dhow

                  Islamic Art in Mombasa

                  ANY SAFARI (many are listed)

SOUTH AFRICA:    Nature Tour: Seal Island

                  A Night of Theatre/Twnshp Music

                  Performance by Township Choir

                  Kagga Kamma Trip

BRAZIL:     Afro-Braz Mus/Candomble House

                  Cortejo Afro Visit

                  Bahia By Night

                  Amazon Explorer

                  Boipeba Island

                  Iguassu Falls

VENEZUELA: The Museums of Caracas

Orinoco Delta or Gran Sabana

Afro-Venequelan Drum workshop

Angle Falls Trip (any)

                    Rancho Grande Cloud Forest Exc.