Cultural Anthropology of Post-Socialism Ethnographic Accounts and Anthropological Theories in and of East-Central Europe Autumn 2011 Masaryk University in 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 the European satellite states of the former Soviet Union. The format of the course is a combination of lectures and thorough seminar discussions of the assigned readings. 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 autumn on September 22, October 13, November 3, and November 24 for three 80-minute sessions each time. September 22 14.30–15.50 What Is East-Central Europe? Political and Cultural Geographies September 22 16.05–17.25 East-Central Europe as an Area of Anthropological Studies September 22 17.40–19.00 Last Bus Stop (Documentary Film Screening) October 13 14.30–15.50 What Was State Socialism? Political and Economic Theories October 13 16.05–17.25 Economic Reforms, Consumer Socialism, Second Economy October 13 17.40–19.00 Theories and Histories of the Transition November 3 14.30–15.50 Wild East: Global Capitalism in East-Central Europe November 3 16.05–17.25 Privatization, Consumerism, and the Discourse on Normality November 3 17.40–19.00 Trajectories of Social and Cultural Change after 1989 November 24 14.30–15.50 History and Identity in the Post-Socialist Context November 24 16.05–17.25 Forms of Nationalism in East-Central Europe November 24 17.40–19.00 Gender and Generation: Enduring Traditions of Exclusion December 15 12:00 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 shall be conducted before November 17 and their results are to be discussed during the class of November 24. Final essays shall be submitted by 12:00 noon on December 15 and the course grades will be in the Information System (IS) by December 22. Specific readings for the successive topics of the course will be available and accessible in an electronic form through the IS. Miklós Vörös miklos.voros@gmail.com (or 38322@mail.muni.cz)