The attached bibliography, together with material covered
in courses during the first two years, will provide the foundation for the MA
general examination in cultural anthropology. Thus you might equally find
questions on the exam that have to do with the history of anthropology and
paradigmatic theoretical changes; with the role of the study of kinship in
anthropology; with key debates and theoretical perspectives in medical
anthropology or in the study of globalization and development.
The exam will be administered on the first day of the
spring semester final examination period. Students will answer two of three
possible questions during the morning and two of three possible questions during
the afternoon. There will be a 1.5-hour time limit for each question with the
exam period running 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. The questions
will be synthetic in nature and broad enough so that students can draw on any
number of works in the general bibliography. They will also be able to bring
their special knowledge (e.g.: in medical anthropology, in a particular region
of the world) to bear in answering a question.
Guidelines for Reading the Cultural Anthropology Bibliography, MA Exams
For each work on this list, consider its contribution
(theoretical, conceptual, methodological) to the discipline of anthropology at
the time it was written. Next consider its enduring legacy. If it is a classic
work in theory or ethnography ask yourself what we can still learn from it as 21st
century readers. If it is a more recent work consider its impact—what new
research or debates has it generated since it was published? What enduring
concept, method, or theory has it introduced?
You might also consider how each work addresses some of
the critical issues in anthropology—the meaning of culture, structure,
community, ethnicity, etc.; the relationship between the local and the global;
the relationship between qualitative and quantitative data and between
positivism and postmodernism; the significance of field research and context (or
place); the importance of cross-cultural comparison.
Cultural Anthropology Bibliography
This bibliography is a list of what the faculty consider
to be major ethnographic and/or theoretical contributions to the field during
the 20th century. The books on the list are important background
reading to help prepare you for the General MA exams. These books should
supplement what you are covering and learning in your course work. Indeed,
portions of some of these works may very well be assigned in your classes.
In addition the faculty recommends that you browse through
the Annual Review of Anthropology from time to time. The articles in this
publication also provide important background. At the end of this list we append
a list of what we think are some of the key articles that have appeared in the
Annual Review in recent years. These articles capture current
theoretical/empirical trends in anthropology. Some of these articles may be
assigned or referenced in your classes.
Finally, the faculty recommends that you regularly look at
one issue of one journal in anthropology each month. What kinds of articles are
published; what issues do they address; what theoretical frameworks are used,
etc.? In addition, you should regularly read the book reviews in the American
Anthropologist.
