Contemporary themes in social anthropology
About the course
The course is compulsory for students admitted to the Master's programme in Visual and Multimodal Anthropology.
It can be taken as an elective course.
The course deals with contemporary themes in social anthropology. Through specific case studies and empirical examples, the course will introduce students to selected anthropological theories, and to their application to real-world situations that anthropologists study. We will introduce and deepen understanding of key anthropological methods and concepts, including ethnography, participant observation, cultural relativism, and comparison, and you will explore how these can be used in the analysis of ethnographic material. In particular the course will explore how both traditional and cutting-edge anthropological approaches can be applied to achieve a better understanding of human relations with each other and with other species. We will also explore how they could contribute to more productive approaches to the complex challenges that define human existence today.
Objectives of the course
Objectives of the course
Students who successfully complete this course should have achieved the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge - the candidate:
- knows central issues and perspectives in contemporary anthropology.
- is able to discuss how theory and methodology is related to one another in specific anthropological projects.
- knows the basic conventions of veracity in ethnographic research, including correct use of sources.
Skills - the candidate:
- is able to think critically and construct an academic argument
- is able to distinguish between empirical material and analytic conceptualizations
- is able to apply anthropological theoretical and methodological approaches to specific situations and cases
General competence - the candidate:
- is able to make use of anthropological methods and perspectives in the analysis of our contemporary world.
- is able to give an independent account of different theoretical approaches in contemporary anthropology
Teaching methods
Language of instruction and examination
EnglishSchedule
The schedules are normally finalized and published well in advance of the start of the semester, often a few weeks beforehand. This gives students the opportunity to organize their studies and prepare for upcoming activities.
It is recommended to check the schedule regularly, as changes may occur.
Examination
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