Cultural Anthropology of Post-Socialism Ethnographic Accounts and Anthropological Theories in and of East-Central Europe Spring 2009 Masaryk University, Brno This course gives an overview of the major themes and paradigms in the cultural anthropological research of late-state-socialist and post-socialist societies. Thus, it explores both the palette of various fields that have been seen as specific to the East-Central European region, as well as the important shifts of attention from one topic to another over the course of the past three decades. Although there will be references to state-socialist experiences on other continents, the main cultural-historical focus will remain on European satellite states of the former Soviet Union. The format of the course is a combination of brief lectures and a thorough discussion of assigned readings. The students are encouraged to conduct a brief ethnographic research on cultural practices and write down the observations in a field diary, read both classic and innovative ethnographies as well as theoretical syntheses of the relevant literature, and be prepared to give concise yet in-depth presentations on them. The course meets four times this spring on October 2, October 16, October 30, and November 13 for three 80-minute sessions each time. March 26 15.00–15.50 What Is East-Central Europe? Political and Cultural Geographies March 26 16.05–17.25 What Was Socialism? Historical and Economic Conceptualizations March 26 17.40–19.00 East-Central Europe as an Area of Anthropological Studies April 9 15.00–15.50 Political Theories of State Socialism and Their Practical Critique April 9 16.05–17.25 Economic Reforms, Consumer Socialism, Second Economy April 9 17.40–19.00 Theories and Histories of the Transition April 23 15.00–15.50 Wild East: Global Capitalism in East-Central Europe April 23 16.05–17.25 Privatization, Consumerism, and the Discourse on Normality April 23 17.40–19.00 Trajectories of Social and Cultural Change after 1989 May 7 15.00–15.50 History and National Identity in the Post-Socialist Context May 7 16.05–17.25 Forms of Nationalism in East-Central Europe May 7 17.40–19.00 Gender and Generation: Enduring Traditions of Exclusion May TBA Final papers due The course grades will be based on written work and class participation. The in-class presentation of selected readings and active participation in the classroom discussions will account for 30 percent, completion of the brief research assignment on ethnographic observations for 30 percent, and submitting the final take-home essay for 40 percent of the grade. It is not allowed to miss more than one seminar session – sign up for the course only if you are able to be present during all classes. The assigned ethnographic observations will be conducted before October 30 and their results discussed during the class of November 13. Specific readings for the successive topics of the course will be distributed separately in a reader that is available either in print or in an electronic form through the IS (Information System). Miklós Vörös miklos.voros@gmail.com or 38322@mail.muni.cz