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| ANTH0033-1 | Social and cultural antropology 2
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| Duration : | 30h Th |
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| Credits/ECTS : |
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| Holder(s) : | Benjamin Rubbers |
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| Language : | Langue française |
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| Course contents : | In continuity with Social and Cultural Anthropology I, this course will concentrate on the main approaches that have become influential in anthropology since 1960. To begin, we will return to the old debate between rationalism and romanticism, which is at the root of the two opposing conceptions of culture in anthropology. Next, we will cover theories of culture that developed within these two traditions of thought, from Durkheim to cognitive anthropology on one hand, and from Boas to post-modern anthropology on the other. These different approaches will be illustrated by concrete problematics, such as religious conversion of the Tswana in Africa, the globalization of cricket, or learning classical dance in France. Finally, we will end the course with two transversal themes, cultural identity and memory. |
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| Course objective : | To introduce students to theories of culture in anthropology. At the end of the course, students will be able to discuss the light that each theory can shed upon the fundamental questions of our time. |
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| Prerequisites : | Students must have completed the course in Social and Cultural Anthropology I, must appreciate theory, must love reading, and must have a high degree of natural curiosity. |
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| Workshops : | Practice sessions, based on lecture material, will be arranged throughout the term. |
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| Organization : | The course will take place during the second term. Here is a provisional schedule of classes and material to be covered:
1. Introduction: the origins of the idea of culture
2. The Durkheimian approach
3. Structuralism
4. The logic of writing
5. The body
6. Cognitive anthropology
7. Interpretive anthropology
8. Symbolic anthropology
9. The critical turning point of the 1960s
10. Postmodern anthropology
11. Cultural identity
12. Memory, tradition and heritage |
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| Written notes : | A copy of PowerPoint presentations to be used in the course will be posted on the MyUlg portal. Students will also receive a collection of readings. |
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| Assessment : | The examination will consist of a multiple-choice test, including degrees of certainty, during the first term. Arrangements for the examination at the end of the second term will be announced based on the number of students. Grading will depend partly on course material, and partly on readings. |
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| Contacts : | I am available to meet with students by appointment (brubbers@ulg.ac.be). Office location: R.94, niveau 0, bâtiment B. 31 at Sart-Tilman |
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| Remarks : | Students who received a grade of at least 12/20 in the Cultural Anthropology course in 2007/2008 do not have to take this class. |
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