The course will introduce students to the modern literature on Samoan society and social organization, and to ethnographic approaches to understanding Samoan history, people and culture. Students will gain an understanding of Samoan culture, society and change, based on field research by scholars of Samoa since the 1920s. The course will critically examine the impact that ethnographic accounts of Samoa have had on social theories and controversies in social anthropology.

At the end of this course students will be able to:

• Understand the methods, purposes and history of ethnography, particularly major ethnographic studies of Samoan society and culture since the late 1890s.
• Discuss the reasons why these studies were done in Samoa; their major research questions and determine the focus and main findings of each study of Samoa, and what these studies of Samoa have contributed to the development of social theory and debates in social science
• Develop a critical understanding of the difference between ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ research perspectives on Samoa
• Posit the discussion and critique around representation within theoretical frameworks relevant to their own social and cultural context
• Develop a working knowledge of the history and politics of academic representation, as related to Samoans, Pacific Islanders and other Indigenous groups and communities