ANTH 250(2): Methods in Anthropology: Life Histories/Self
Narratives
Prof. LeeRay M.
Costa
Hollins University, SPRING 2002
Course Description
What
is a life history? What is a self
narrative? What can they tell us
about individuals and the social and cultural groups of which they are a part?
How have theories of life history evolved over time and how has theory
been shaped by various academic disciplines and their intersections?
How does a researcher go about practically conducting a life history/self
narrative, analyzing and presenting it? As
both a method and a window onto humanity and culture, how might life
history/self narrative be applied more broadly and used more effectively by
people other than scholars?
These
are just some of the questions explored in this course.
Through a critical examination of concepts of life history and self
narrative, we will discuss their pros and cons, and their various applications
in academic and non-academic contexts. Readings,
drawn from diverse cultural (Africa, Pacific islands, Puerto Rico, United States
and Europe) and historical contexts (throughout the twentieth century), will
expose students to a variety of ways that life history has been utilized within
social science and the humanities. We
will explore how life history/self narrative might be used as one method for
recording the experiences of both individuals and communities. Thus we will look at how categories of difference (e.g. race,
ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, age, religion, geographic location) are
experienced and reflected on by the narrators of life histories.
The
course is aimed to acquaint students with both theory and method. Therefore a
significant part of the course will focus on teaching students to use the method
of life history/self narrative. Students will learn to organize and conduct life
story interviews, to transcribe them and finally, to present them in written
form. As a result, the course will
demand a significant time investment outside of class meetings. Please be sure
that you can meet the course requirements before committing to the course.