LAW IN SOCIETY AND CULTURE

ANTH 341-80

William Paterson University of New Jersey

Department of Anthropology

Fall 2009 Online

WELCOME LETTER

Welcome to ANTH 341-80, Law In Society And Culture, an online course for the fall of 2009. This is always an interesting class, especially these days when we are becoming more acutely aware of other realities around us because of easier and more affordable travel and the Internet. Both of these sources make other cultures more accessible to us. In this course we will examine people and their cultures around the world from many different societies and ethnic backgrounds to see how they order themselves and how they deal with lines of authority. How do Roma (gypsies) figure what’s right and wrong? What is Omerta? How did Hammurabai’s Code not only enable many people to live and work together cooperatively and successfully, but established the basis for all future civil law? What is Sharia? What is the Code of Handsome Lake?

These are all questions we hope to answer, as many more will be raised during the course of this class. The key to this class and any of my classes, whether online or in person is participation. As you read the course syllabus you will notice that we spend a week on each subject. I will schedule virtual chat sessions 3-4 times a week to make sure everyone gets a chance to hear the material. Each session will be recorded in case you miss a session. Although each session tends to be unique, we will stay in and around the topics stated in the syllabus for each week. Attendance is very important also, as it is in any class I teach. More than three excused absences will result in the final grade being dropped one whole grade.

The texts are:

“Political Anthropology, An Introduction”, Lewellen, Ted, ISBN 0-89789-890-5.

“Stone Age Economics”, Sahlins, Marshall, ISBN 0-202-01098-6.

Everything else will be posted up on the course site, usually in Course Documents, or as Internet links in Course Links.

You can reach me at anytime on the above email. I live in Ontario, Canada, which is the same time zone as you, so feel free to call anytime. Hint: my cell phone (973-934-2207) is a Verizon number and is the best to use.