ANTH 3368 Urban Life

Study Guide for the Midterm Examination

Instructions:

You will find four questions here, three of which will be selected for the midterm examination. Be prepared to answer two (2) of the three (3) selected questions.

You are permitted to bring up to 10 single-sided (or 5 double-sided) sheets of paper for your use during the in-class exam. This will allow you to use information in your answers without having to memorize population data, names, dates, etc.

Blue books will be distributed promptly at 2:00 pm and collected 3:20 pm. Please use a black or blue ink pen rather than a pencil.

Each question answered will count for 12.5% of the course grade, so plan your time and your writing accordingly.

Question 1.

In his essay "Urbanism as a Way of Life," Louis Wirth defined a city as a type of community which is large, dense, and comprised of socially heterogeneous individuals. Based on your understanding of the lectures, readings, and videos to date, evaluate the continuing usefulness of Wirth’s approach for understanding life in contemporary cities. Give three examples of how this concept helps us -- or fails to help us -- understand the role of community in contemporary societies.

Question 2.

Anthropologists and other social scientists have debated the value of the concept of "The Culture of Poverty" for some five decades. What are the major features associated with this concept and what have been the major criticisms of the concept? Give three examples of how this concept helps us -- or fails to help us -- understand issues of social and economic hierarchy (i.e., poverty and wealth) in contemporary societies.

Question 3.

Historically, cities have been important for religious practices and institutions, and religious practices and institutions have been important components in urban life. Based on your understanding of the lectures, readings, and videos to date, discuss the historical and contemporary connections between urban life and religion. Give three examples (drawn from the U.S. and other countries) to demonstrate how religion and urban life interact in the contemporary world.

Question 4.

In urban studies, some scholars emphasize the "city" as a location in which distinctive human activities take place; other scholars emphasize the "urban system" which includes all places regardless of their size and other features. Based on your understanding of the lectures, readings, and videos to date, what do you consider to be the advantages/disadvantages of focusing scholarly attention on "the city" or the "urban system"? Give three examples of how this concept helps us -- or fails to help us -- understand urbanization processes in contemporary societies.