Unit name | Contemporary Theory in Social Anthropology |
---|---|
Unit code | ANTH20001 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Annist |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit aims to acquaint students with contemporary themes in anthropological theory. Emphasis is placed upon the role of theory in contemporary anthropology and the academic, political and social context within which anthropological theories have developed. The unit reviews the history of theoretical developments in anthropology and provides the necessary analytical frameworks within which students can understand contemporary trends in anthropological theory. The unit will provide students with the skills to effectively read, understand and assess current anthropological literature on the basis of its theoretical stance.
Aims
At the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to
1) Discuss the broad philosophical and historical development of contemporary anthropological theory.
2) Critically assess competing explanative frameworks and evaluate their strengths and weakness.
3) Evaluate critically and deconstruct anthropological texts on the basis of their theoretical underpinnings.
4) Explain and analyse anthropological data from multiple theoretical standpoints.
Weekly 2-hour lecture / seminar
One essay of 2500 words (50%). Assesses ILOs 1-4.
One two-hour exam (50%). Assesses ILOs 1-4.
Astuti, R., Parry, J., & Stafford, C. (Eds.). (2007). Questions of anthropology (Vol. 76). Berg.
Borgatti, SP, M.G. Everet & J.C. Johnson (2013) Analyzing Social Networks. London: Sage.
Carsten, J. (2004). After kinship: New departures in anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge Uni.
Kuklick, H., ed. (2008) A New History of Anthropology. Blackwell.
Moberg, M. (2012). Engaging anthropological theory: a social and political history. Routledge.
Moore, H. & T. Sanders, eds. (2006) Anthropology in Theory: Issues in Epistemology. Blackwell.
Ortner, S. B. (1984). "Theory in anthropology since the sixties". Comparative studies in society and history, 26(1), 126-166.
Rapport, N. & J. Overing (2007) Social and Cultural Anthropology: The Key Concepts. Routledge.