MEAD Projects Proposal – Concepts Integration
This assignment is a GROUP DISCUSSION & GROUP PROPOSAL meant to get you going on your final project. Note that your groups were created thematically, but that doesn’t mean you MUST only have ONE outcome. That is, each person could contribute a segment (if more individual work is desired). Done well and thoughtfully, this step creates a strong foundation for moving forward with your MEAD Project.
Remember: we are looking for targeted, manageable, and impactful works and approaches that can positively impact broader debates be they on campus, in Oxford, in the state and country as a whole, and of course, the world. They should be empirical, comparative, holistic, relativistic + power-aware, biocultural, and ethical.
Objective: To think about the holistic approach using science, emergent controversies, and belief as a springboard; examine the benefits of bringing anthropological perspectives and methods outside of the academy
Outcome: A clear, structured written group proposal that outlines the specific approaches and topics related to a broader group approach and topic.
MEAD Project guidelines and specific directions for this assignment appear below.
MEAD Projects: Your ultimate goal is to create your own MEAD Project; this is the integration and “nuts and bolts” stage. A MEAD Project is a public presentation to a non-specialist audience on a topic of critical import. It is not an original “research” paper or project. Rather, it is drawing from anthropological research and evidence to re-present the importance and significance of anthropological discourses and data using a multi-subfield approach (archaeology/material culture, bio-physical, linguistic, cultural, medical).
In other words, these projects are designed to insert your collective anthropological wisdom into a wider public debate, illustrating the critical import and unique ability of anthropological data and discourses to address the broad and existential concerns of humanity.
Direction:
PART I: THINK BACK ON THE CLASS
Think about the Semester so far, and all of the topics and issues we have addressed. From there, look at the guidelines for both the MEAD Projects generally (above) and this specific assignment (Part III below).
PART II: GETTING TO A GROUP PROPOSAL
1. Building from your Individual Proposal 1.0, and subsequent group discussion and Storyboard I & II exercises , start by each individual contributing their updated ideas and perspectives.
2. Be sure to show how your own chosen journal article could help your peers, and look at your peers’ summaries of their chosen readings.
3. BRAINSTORM BRAINSTORM BRAINSTORM
PART III: WRITE UP AS A GROUP
In one post answer the following questions in the format of a project completion proposal. Note that the highlighted sections are the most important for this:
1. CONTEXT AND RESEARCH QUESTION: What broad topic will your GROUP engage with your public anthropology project? Answer this by discussing and exemplifying the “broad” as well as potential “specifics”. NOTE: This will be refined from last week’s assignment. It is possible to have multiple “specifics” relating to different team members.
2. EMPIRICISM AND SITUATED KNOWLEDGE: You should include SPECIFIC references to AT LEAST ONE COURSE READING (if not more) + FUENTES (2012) TO JUSTIFY YOUR APPROACH AND PROJECT, and one ADDITIONAL OUTSIDE READING FROM EACH MEMBER OF THE TEAM as empirical evidence to use to substantiate and illustrate your topic. How and why are these readings relevant?
3. ANTHROPOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS: How are holism, comparativism, relativism + power, biocultural change, and multi-subfield approaches addressed?
4. GENRE: What format or portfolio object have you chosen (i.e. video, Ted talk, museum display, white/policy paper, podcast)? Why and how does your topic lend itself well to your chosen format?
5. AUDIENCE: Who is your AUDIENCE? How have you chosen this audience, and why or how is the format and topic appropriate?
STORY, NARRATIVE, CHARACTER ELEMENTS: How will you “bring to life” your topic? What stories or characters will you use to HUMANIZE the topic and HOOK the audience?
6. PLAN FOR COMPLETION: How do you foresee gathering the requisite data/information/images for your project, and what steps do you see necessary for completion?
7. ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT THIS: How does your story link to anthropological concepts, what are your empirical sources, and how will you go about getting it done?
Readings:
You will EACH do some research and find AT LEAST ONE READING FROM THE COURSE THAT RELATES to your chosen topic. THIS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO YOUR GROUP PROPOSAL, AND BEGIN THE BASIS OF YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY. Note you will all rely on Fuentes (2012), and that you have all HAVE EACH already sourced one EXTERNAL reading (anthropological research, not just “news” articles) from the previous Individual Proposal assignment.
Grading information:
The standard Activities Rubric will be used to grade this exercise.
1. Anthropological Perspectives (4) Exhibits awareness and understanding of ethnocentrism, cultural relativity, contexts, and power in all activities;
2. Course Concepts (4) Directly and appropriately utilizes course terminology in all writing and activities;
3. Examples (4) Describes and utilizes appropriate examples from course materials (readings, films, individual fieldwork, media sources);
4. Follows Instructions (4) Is this a compare/contrast discussion? Did you find outside sources if required? Were you supposed to upload an image? Follow the directions!! And put in some effort;
5. Writing, Style, Organization (4) Writing is always important. The writing can be indicative of your effort (see #4 above).
