ANTH 205 - The World at Play

In this course, we will explore the deep comedy of imaginative play by people around the world. We will consider the ludicrous and seemingly inconsequential acts that people perform in fun, and the uses of play. We will entertain material ranging from Balinese cockfights to Charlie Chaplin films as we examine the relevance of joking, parody, and other acts of creative improvisation to people’s lives and worldviews. Students will become acquainted with sociolinguistic and semiotic modes of analysis through our discussions of wordplay, wit and funny stories. No prior coursework in anthropology or linguistics required.

Credits: 3