In Chapter 1 of the textbook (The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft), Stein and Stein explain how anthropologists, unlike many other social scientists, seek a holistic perspective on culture. Anthropologists therefore study religion as something that is connected to other aspects of people’s lives and values, such as, for example, household economics, gender, and migration experiences. The following questions ask you to reflect on some of these connections. Submit all question answers as a single document to the assignment dropbox.

What do the stories that Brown shares about Marie Noelsine Joseph (“Sina”) and Philomise (Mama Lola’s grandmother and mother) reveal about Mama Lola’s worldview? (Anthropologists’ understanding of worldview is defined in Chapter 2 of the textbook. For example, you could write about things such as gender roles, family ties, or connections to Haiti and Africa.) (250-300 words; worth 50 points)

Economic exchange and reciprocity are big parts of the birthday party ritual that Mama Lola threw for Azaka, (described in Chapter 2 of Mama Lola), and the trip that Mama Lola and Karen McCarthy Brown made to Haiti, described on pages 169-182 (for those of you using digital versions, these pages fall in the Kousinn chapter, starting with the section called “A Trip to the Provinces” and ending just before the section called “Storytelling.”) Briefly describe these economic practices and analyze how they bind people both to one another, and to specific spirits. (250-300 words; worth 50 points)
Additional information:

Your essay answers can go a little bit over the word count guide if you like, but if they are shorter than the lower number, they will lose points. The only two sources that should be used in this exam are the class textbook and the ethnography, Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn. There is therefore no need to spell out the full names or the book titles each time you want to refer to them, or to include a bibliography. HOWEVER, it should be clear which book you are using (for example, you can use statements such as “Brown wrote that,” or “according to the textbook,” or “In Mama Lola, we learn…”). Also, when referring to specific sections, you must indicate the year of publication and which pages you are referring to in parentheses. For example:

According to Stein and Stein, legends are seen by believers as true stories, even if certain aspects of the story may be exaggerated to emphasize a particular message (2011: 31). (for when you use specific information, but put it in your own words).

OR “In contrast to folktales, legends are seen by members of the culture as representing events that have actually taken place, although some embellishment often occurs” (Stein and Stein 2011: 31). (for when you quote something directly)
There are two books necessary for this: The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft 3rd edition by rebecca steins and philip steins.
the second book is Mama lola by Karen McCarthy Brown