人类（human beings）是工具制造者同时也是象征创造者，我们理解世界并形塑生命，很大程度依靠着将人事物赋予意义，将其整合进象征模式中，以及创造精心设计的象征行为模式。在本堂导读课程中，我们要探讨象征如何被创造与结构化，如何利用并在世界不同领域产生意义，如何被纳入政治、家庭与生命循环，而我们又是如何解释它们的。

本课程将讨论一系列有关象征主义的主题：

1. 隐喻及其他比喻语言。
2. 象征主义中的原本内容，特别是动物与人体。
3. 宇宙观与繁复的象征体系。
4. 仪式，包括象征性治疗与法术。
5. 故事与人生。
6. 神话学。

本课程着重于象征的形式及其分析，而非思想史或者是关于象征研究在社会理论的位置；当然在讨论上述六大主题内容时，理论家、学派、思想史会占大多数，尽量不着墨于理论辞汇。指定读物有文章或书籍的部分章节，作者主要是人类学家，内容则涵盖古今不同社会。除了阅读指定文章、参与课堂讨论，同学们整学期还要缴交数篇短文和田野报告。

Susan Sontag的《疾病的隐喻》是指定读本。而涵盖不同层面象征主义的其他指定阅读资料，会在课堂里讨论。

课程是以讲授与讨论交叉进行。每堂课都有指定的阅读资料，同学请事先阅读并准备讨论。出席率(是指出席与讨论的表现)会严重影响期末成绩，学期初的出席率也会列入考量。

本课程没有挡修条件。开放给所有学生。

作业是文章和田野报告数篇。没有期末考。

Human beings are symbol-making as well as tool-making animals. We understand our world and shape our lives in large part by assigning meanings to objects, beings, and persons; by connecting things together in symbolic patterns; and by creating elaborate forms of symbolic action and narrative. In this introductory subject we consider how symbols are created and structured; how they draw on and give meaning to different domains of the human world; how they are woven into politics, family life, and the life cycle; and how we can interpret them.

The semester will be devoted to a number of topics in symbolism.

1. Metaphor and Other Figurative Language
2. The Raw Materials of Symbolism, especially animals and The Human Body
3. Cosmology and Complex Symbolic Systems
4. Ritual, including Symbolic Curing and Magic
5. Narrative and Life
6. Mythology

The course will focus primarily on symbolic forms and their analysis, rather than on intellectual history or the place of symbolic studies in social theory. Theorists, schools of thought, and intellectual history will be discussed for the most part in the context of the six topics listed above, and technical vocabulary will be kept to a minimum. Readings will consist primarily of articles and chapters, most of them by anthropologists, covering a wide variety of cases from traditional and modern societies. Students, in addition to keeping up with the readings and participating in class discussions, will be expected to write a series of short essays and field studies over the course of the semester.

There is one required text, Illness as Metaphor / AIDS and its Metaphors, (by Susan Sontag 1978, 1989, Doubleday). Otherwise, course readings consist of articles and chapters on different aspects of symbolism, which will be discussed in class.

Classes will consist of a mixture of lecture and discussion. Each class is keyed to a set of readings, and it is crucial that students keep up with the readings and be prepared to discuss them in class. Class participation — in terms of both regular attendance and participation in discussion — will count strongly towards the final grade. In the first weeks of the semester attendance will be taken.

There is no prerequisite: this subject is open to any student.

Written work will consist of a series of short papers, divided between essays and field reports. There is no final exam.