The Anthropology of Happiness*
Course Description: We will learn how the concept of happiness takes shape in diverse cultural, social, national and geographical contexts. Through the lens of ethnography, film, and other media, we will learn how happiness, well-being and related concepts (i.e. joy, wonder, enchantment) are socially and culturally defined in specific historical, political, and national contexts. We also draw on Black Feminist scholarship in anthropology to consider who can make claim to happiness and well-being? Thus a primary course objective is to learn to think anthropologically about a topic most often covered through popular psychology, economics, or through the lens-of self-care, which is often individualistic. How is happiness imagined to be a social and collective project in specific cultural and historical context? How can it be glimpsed through specific practices? Students will have the opportunity to explore happiness and well-being through a research project.
Ethnography is the foundational method developed by social-cultural anthropologists to study the changing expressions of human society and culture by doing fieldwork, participating in the social life of the community, and writing it down. In this class, we are especially concerned with exploring contemporary directions in social and cultural anthropology, building on foundational methods and social theory, and turning the lens in new directions.
*Catalogue Title: Social and Cultural Anthropology
Course Description: We will learn how the concept of happiness takes shape in diverse cultural, social, national and geographical contexts. Through the lens of ethnography, film, and other media, we will learn how happiness, well-being and related concepts (i.e. joy, wonder, enchantment) are socially and culturally defined in specific historical, political, and national contexts. We also draw on Black Feminist scholarship in anthropology to consider who can make claim to happiness and well-being? Thus a primary course objective is to learn to think anthropologically about a topic most often covered through popular psychology, economics, or through the lens-of self-care, which is often individualistic. How is happiness imagined to be a social and collective project in specific cultural and historical context? How can it be glimpsed through specific practices? Students will have the opportunity to explore happiness and well-being through a research project.
Ethnography is the foundational method developed by social-cultural anthropologists to study the changing expressions of human society and culture by doing fieldwork, participating in the social life of the community, and writing it down. In this class, we are especially concerned with exploring contemporary directions in social and cultural anthropology, building on foundational methods and social theory, and turning the lens in new directions.
*Catalogue Title: Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Primary Instructor: Helen Regis