AST 517

Anthropology of China

It is widely acknowledged that China is a rising power in the global political economy. However, with the coexistence of tradition and modernity, the nature of Chinese culture and society remains heavily debated. This course explores a wide range of topics and issues that constitute the socio-cultural fabric of contemporary mainland Chinese society. These topics include, but are not limited to, family, gender, ethnicity, religion, education, politics, and economics. Our investigation will focus on two broad themes: 1) the unity and diversity of Chinese society, and 2) the continuity and change that took place from late traditional China to the present. The goal of this course includes learning various aspects of Chinese culture and society, studying diverse anthropological approaches to the study of China, and examining the political dimensions of representation

Units: 3.0