Theories and Approaches in Anthropology
| Module title | Theories and Approaches in Anthropology |
|---|---|
| Module code | ANT1009 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
This module provides an overview of key theoretical and empirical approaches in anthropology. It offers you a historical perspective, showing how theoretical approaches emerge in relation to one another and to specific sociohistorical circumstances, but also emphasizes how the approaches remain useful as practical tools for analyzing the social and cultural realities faced by researchers today. The purpose of this module is thus to show you the continuing relevance of the principles of anthropological analysis developed over the past century for our understanding of social world, highlighting theoretical continuities while also attending to key changes and developments in the theoretical field.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aims of this module are to provide you with a foundation for anthropological analysis in a twofold way: to provide a theoretical structure and to introduce conceptual tools. First, it aims to provide you with the scaffolding and a chronological grid for the themes explored in other modules. Second, it aims to give you the tools needed to approach a broad range of social and cultural phenomena, by asking different types of questions, such as: what is its function, or how does it contribute to the broader whole? In whose interest is it, is there a group benefiting from this arrangement? What is the perspective of the actors involved?
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate knowledge about the development of Anthropology as an academic discipline from the late nineteenth century to the present day;
- 2. show familiarity with a range of theoretical approaches and how they relate to each other within the historical development of anthropology;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. show a developing capacity to recognise, describe and evaluate anthropological theory;
- 4. demonstrate familiarity with a variety of classic and contemporary anthropological literature;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. devise and sustain an original argument based on close interpretation of texts;
- 6. communicate effectively in written and verbal form.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Precursors: Marx, Durkheim, Weber
- Theorizing the social
- Functionalism and structural functionalism
- Process and conflict
- Structuralism
- Practice
- Power and resistance
- Interpretivism and cultural hermeneutics
- Postmodernism
- Critique of culture
- Theory in anthropology
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 122.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 16.5 | Weekly 1.5 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 11 | Weekly 1 hour tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 33 | Reading of the set texts for weekly lectures and the tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 11 | Writing weekly response papers |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Additional reading under the guidance of the lecturer |
| Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation and writing of the essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 28.5 | Recapitulation of reading done throughout the term; preparation of essay plans; portfolio revision, etc. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly reading response papers on the essential readings | 150 words/week | 1-6 | Oral (in class); additional feedback provided on request in the office hours |
| Participation in tasks in the tutorials | Weekly | 1,2,5,6 | Oral (in class) |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio of 9 reading response papers (150 words each) with an introduction (500 words) | 40 | 1850 words | 1-6 | Written (further oral feedback available on request in the office hours) |
| Essay | 60 | 1800 words | 1-6 | Written (further oral feedback available on request in the office hours) |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio of reading response papers | Essay (1850 words) | 1-6 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (1800 words) | 1-6 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Kuper, A. 1996. Anthropology and Anthropologists: The Modern British School (3rd edition). London and New York: Routledge.
Ortner, S.B., 1984, Theory in Anthropology Since the Sixties, Comparative Studies in Society and History 26: 126-166.
Barnard, A., 2000. History and theory in anthropology. Cambridge University Press.
Layton, R., 1997. An introduction to theory in anthropology. Cambridge University Press.
Geertz, C., 1973. The interpretation of cultures: Selected essays (Vol. 5019). Basic books.
Kuper, A., 2009. Culture: The anthropologists' account. Harvard University Press.
Bourdieu, P.,1993. Structures, Habitus, Power: Basis for a Theory of Symbolic Power, in Dirks, N.B., Eley, G. and Ortner, S.B., 1994. Culture/power/history: A reader in contemporary social theory. Princeton University Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ARD - Anthropology Review Database
Internet Anthropologist
Anthrobase
SOSIG: Social Science Information Gateway
Anthropology Resources on the Internet
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 16/12/2016 |
| Last revision date | 23/02/2017 |
