spring 2022
SVF-3109 Antropologisk Teori og Etnografisk Praksis - 20 ECTS
Admission requirements
Admission requires a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 80 ECTS in anthropology, sociology, ethnology, folklore, cultural studies, visual media/communication, visual culture or other closely related fields of study. Applicants must enclose a statement of purpose written in English (maximum of two pages). This statement must include the purpose for and interest in pursuing the master's degree programme, especially why you find visual anthropology interesting. It should also include a short description of a proposed master thesis project. Any experience from film making should also be mentioned in the motivation letter. An average grade equivalent to C or better within the Norwegian grading system is required for Bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in Europe, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand; And an average grade equivalent to B or better within the Norwegian grading system is required for Bachelor's degree or equivalent issued in all other countries.Course content
The course will give students an overview of anthropological theory and epistemological issues in the social sciences, forming a background and theoretical foundation to their writing of a project description in which they identify research questions which are feasible and manageable within the limits of the fieldwork.
It also implies clarifying how the research questions are related to existing literature. Regional ethnographic literature, social science literature addressing the topic of research, and social science theory in general should be used.
Apart from lectures, the course consists of seminars in which the students` project descriptions for the master`s research project are further developed.
An individual camera-based ethnographic fieldwork of 3-4 months duration is conducted.
Objectives of the course
Students who successfully complete this course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge
- know how to prepare, present and conduct a camera-based social scientific research project
- have solid knowledge of literature relevant to their Master¿s project, thematically.
- know what differentiates a research problematic from everyday problematic
- Practical and technical preparations
Skills
- be able to develop manageable research questions, and methodological and theoretical approaches for their master¿s project, and the chosen field of research.
- assess how their personal commitment relates to the chosen project.
- be able to demonstrate how the camera is going to be used in discovery of the cultural conventions of their research partners
- be able to demonstrate how they are going to create a film narrative rooted in their overall project
General competence
- be able to demonstrate how they are going to pursue their objectives and research questions through the choices of research partners and research settings.
- be able to demonstrate how the textual and filmic representations are going to be related to each other.
- be able to identify and discuss the relevance of their project to; research partners, cultural diversity globally, development of methodological and theoretical refinement.
Teaching methods
The course consists of approximately 20 hours with lectures (10 lectures) and approximately 16 hours with seminars. Consists of two parts; the practical and theoretical preparations and the practical fieldwork. The course runs for 6 weeks and also includes the fieldwork for the Master's Thesis.Information to incoming exchange students
This course is available for inbound exchange students.
This course has academic prerequisites. Please see the «Admission requirements» section for more information.
Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: INBOUND STUDENT MOBILITY: COURSE COORDINATORS AT THE FACULTIES | UiT
Assessment
Course attendance is compulsory, i.e. only valid absences will be approved. A minimum presence of 80 % is required.
The course has a portfolio evaluation, and the following is required during the preparation of the individual portfolio.
Students must participate to the safety and security course in the field and submit the risk assessment form.
Students must submit the notification form to NSD.
Students must submit two drafts of their project description.
Conduct a camera based ethnographic fieldwork of 3-4 months..
The final portfolio must include the following:
- Project description for the Master¿s project with a special focus on the formulation and discussion of research question(s) and the theoretical and epistemological context.
- Literature review
- Approved risk assessment form.
- Fieldwork report reflecting on whether or not the fieldwork is fulfilling the expectations in the original project description and how to move forward.
Students are not admitted access to camera equipment and allowed to start fieldwork before the project description and the risk assessment are approved.
Marking is made according to a grading scale with "pass" / "fail". A re-sit exam will be arranged for this course.
Recommended reading/syllabus
Pensumliste for SVF-3109 Anthropological Theory and Ethnographic Praxis- About the course
- Campus: Tromsø |
- ECTS: 20
- Course code: SVF-3109
- Responsible unit
- Department of Social Sciences