Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - SA 201W D100

Anthropology and Contemporary Life (A) (4)

Class Number: 2385

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Tue, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Bascom Guffin
    mguffin@sfu.ca
    Office Hours: By appointment via in-person/online

  • Prerequisites:

    Recommended: SA 101.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the anthropological perspective as applied to the organization of everyday life in contemporary settings. Introduces positivist, interpretive, and critical interpretive approaches to the analysis of social actions, identities, and values as enacted in space and time. Writing/Breadth-Social Sci.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course presents an anthropology of human flourishing by asking, “What does it mean to love, hope, play, imagine, have joy, find purpose?” Together, we will take a cross-cultural journey to examine ways in which answers to this question are shaped by the social, cultural, and material conditions within which people, both as individuals and as collectivities, find themselves. To do so, we will draw from ethnographic and theoretical texts as well as other media forms. Some anthropological modes of thought we will dip into along the way include those addressing affect, ethics, notions of the good, and anarchism, as well as those key terms of love, hope, play, imagination, joy, and purpose.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

As a successful learner in this course, you will:

  • Become familiar with key theoretical frameworks around an anthropology of flourishing
  • Cultivate your ability to read thoughtfully and critically
  • Hone your writing and communication skills
  • Build your capacity to hold multiple sociocultural contexts in mind around a given concept in order to examine and appreciate the diversity of human experience
  • Become adept at utilizing anthropological tools and stances to examine your own experiences and assumptions as well as the world around you
  • Develop a deeper, broader way of thinking about and imagining human possibility.

 

Grading

  • Class Participation and Attendance 15%
  • Weekly Responses 15%
  • Discussion Facilitation 10%
  • Midterm Essay (due June 26) 25%
  • Final Project (due August 7) 35%

NOTES:

Grading: Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

 

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All required readings are available through Canvas, the SFU Library, or online.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.