Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Substitute(s)
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This introduction to anthropology will cover the discipline's formative years. After having discussed what distinguishes anthropology from other social sciences, we will study the work of cultural evolutionists, who introduced anthropology into the academy at the end of the 19th century. Against this approach new anthropological theories developed between 1900 and 1960. During the course, we will discuss each of these theories by travelling between the United Kingdom, United States and France. This journey into early anthropological thought will give us the opportunity to address fundamental questions: 'are human societies following any direction?'; 'what allows human beings to live together?'; 'to what extent is personality influenced by culture?'; or 'what are the consequences of colonization?'. We will present ethnographic studies that these traditions of thought have produced to answer to these questions, and show how far they can still be considered as topical today. In the last session, we will briefly speak of the rupture caused by anthropological theories in the second half of the 20th century. These theories will be covered in the course Social and Cultural Anthropology II.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By introducing students to the fundamentals of the discipline, this course aims at showing the relevance of the anthropological detour to question the 'natural' character of our practices and representations, and accordingly, to think about the way men and women make history.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Minimal knowledge of French, a taste for reading, and above all curiosity about the world around us.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The course consists in face-to-face lessons.
Recommended or required readings
A copy of PowerPoint presentations used in class will be posted on MyULg. Students will also receive readings.
Assessment methods and criteria
Details about the type of examination will be given during the first lesson. Evaluation will focus on knowledge of the course and readings.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
The professor is available to meet students by appointment (email).