SJS 222 - The Anthropology of Money

Institution:

Point Park University

Subject:

Description:

This course surveys the contemporary and historical uses of money as a human project from basic systems of reciprocity to the evolving forms of virtual currency. Drawing on the depth and breadth of anthropological investigation into human economic practices. This course interrogates the myriad forms that currency takes in the current moment as well as exploring the important historical relationship between the advent of money as a human "thought technology"and the rise of social complexity, hierarchy and inequality. Course Objectives 1) Survey the role of money in the history of human economic systems. 2) Describe the historical and contempoary relationships between reciprocity, redistribution and market principles as logics of exchanges. 3) Distinguish the fundamental difference between the concepts and practices of social obligation, credit, and debt across the length and breadth of human experiance. 4) Identify basic forms-from commodity, to fiat, to virtual, etc- that curency can and does take in the contemprorary usage. 5) Explore the contemporary relationship between the practice of fiat currency, global investment strategies and consumer demand.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.pointpark.edu

Phone Number:

(412) 391-4100

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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