Anthrozoology: Theory and Method
| Module title | Anthrozoology: Theory and Method |
|---|---|
| Module code | ANTM102 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Samantha Hurn (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MODULE IS ONLY AVAILABLE VIA DISTANCE-LEARNING.
If you are interested in the many and varied ways in which humans think about and engage with animals, then this module is for you! This is the first module for the MA in Anthrozoology (and an optional module for other programmes) and as such introduces you to anthrozoology – the study of human interactions with nonhuman or 'other than human' animals. Anthrozoology is an emergent but rapidly growing discipline in its own right, and the study of human-animal or multi-species interactions and relationships can be approached from a whole host of disciplinary perspectives. This module (and the MA in Anthrozoology more generally) is grounded in socio-cultural anthropology, and therefore prioritises a cross-cultural, comparative approach to anthrozoology. As a result, you will be encouraged to think about unfamiliar as well as familiar ways of being with animals, which will often require you to set aside any 'cultural baggage' or preconceptions, and adopt a reflexive approach to emotive issues such as blood sports and animal sacrifice. While an anthropological approach to anthrozoology has numerous advantages, the traditional focus of anthropologists on the human animal also raise some significant theoretical and methodological issues which must be confronted in pursuit of an anthrozoological agenda. For example, are humans the only cultured species? What are the ethical implications of classifying humans in opposition to other animals? How can we begin to understand and interpret inter- or multi-species interactions? What are the risks and gains of bringing animals into the social sciences? These issues and many more besides will be explored via a selection of ethnographic case studies and a close reading of a range of seminal texts and the resulting theoretical discussions.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to:
- introduce students from a diverse range of disciplinary and professional backgrounds to ‘anthrozoology’ (the study of human-animal interactions) from an anthropological perspective
- to provide you with the theoretical grounding needed to engage in critical analysis of contemporary and historical examples of human-animal interactions in a range of cultural contexts.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. show a detailed engagement with a wide range of human interactions with other animals in a range of cultural contexts;
- 2. critically discuss the implications of human interactions with other animals in a range of cultural contexts;
- 3. show a detailed understanding of the development of theoretical ideas relating to human interactions with other animals within the social and natural sciences;
- 4. show a critical appreciation of the ways in which perceptions about animals are formed and develop;
- 5. demonstrate a reflexive ability to engage with the cultural practices and personal beliefs of others in a sensitive manner;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the ways in which human interactions with other animals relate to the anthropological endeavour;
- 7. critically assess and engage with some of the key debates from anthropology and a range of cognate disciplines surrounding human-animal interactions;
- 8. evaluate the anthropological prioritising of the human animal and the nature of classificatory systems utilised by anthropologists to facilitate this process;
- 9. make reflexive, theoretically informed cross-cultural comparisons;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. demonstrate critical synoptic skills and the confidence to theoretically challenge hegemonic ideas relating to inter-species relationships;
- 11. Express complex ideas in a clear, coherent and reflexive manner; and
- 12. engage in productive group discussions and provide constructive feedback to peers.
Syllabus plan
The syllabus will be split into three phases.
The first is concerned with introducing students to a wide range of ethnographic case studies which document and explore the many and varied ways in which humans think about and engage with other animals. Specific case studies might include blood sports, pet-keeping, food taboos and dietary preferences, and the place of animals in religious belief and practice.
The second will consider key theoretical debates concerning not just human interactions with animals, but also the ways in which these interactions have featured in or impacted on the social sciences, and anthropology in particular. So, topics to be covered could include post-humanism and its relationship to post-colonialism, intersubjectivity and the possibility of 'knowing' how another (human or nonhuman) experiences the world, the question of personhood and what characteristics combine to make a 'person' and the place of nonhumans in a cosmopolitan anthropology.
The third phase will explore the methodological limitations and possibilities of an anthropological (ethnographic) approach to inter- and multi-species interactions. Students will also be required to undertake formative study-skills assessments from the start of the module to ensure that they are cognisant of the expectations of academic referencing systems, as well as to help them develop their confidence and critical/synoptic skills.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 268 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour audio lectures with accompanying powerpoint presentations |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour discussion/group seminar |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 10 | 10 x 1 hour contributions to VLE forums |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 2 | 2 x 1 hour assignment preparation discussions |
| Guided Independent Study | 80 | Weekly preparatory reading for lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 188 | Research and writing of summative assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| The syllabus will be split into three phases. The first is concerned with introducing students to a wide range of ethnographic case studies which document and explore the many and varied ways in which humans think about and engage with other animals. Specific case studies might include blood sports, pet-keeping, food taboos and dietary preferences, and the place of animals in religious belief and practice. The second will consider key theoretical debates concerning not just human interactions with animals, but also the ways in which these interactions have featured in or impacted on the social sciences, and anthropology in particular. So, topics to be covered could include post-humanism and its relationship to post-colonialism, intersubjectivity and the possibility of 'knowing' how another (human or nonhuman) experiences the world, the question of personhood and what characteristics combine to make a 'person' and the place of nonhumans in a cosmopolitan anthropology. The third phase will explore the met | 1000 words (total) | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 | 1000 words (total) |
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 (Choice of 5 of the lecture topics/tutorial discussions). Further guidance on preparing the portfolio will be provided in the module handbook. | 40 | 2,500 words | 1 - 11 | Written feedback |
| Blog/Podcast Written blog or an audio/audio-visual podcast | 30 | 1,500 words (or 10-15 mins) | 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 | Written feedback |
| Written feedback | 30 | 10-15 minutes (equivalent to 1500 words) | 1 - 12 | Written feedback |
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 Please respond to your choice of 5 of the lecture topics/tutorial discussions. | Portfolio Please respond to your choice of 5 of the lecture topics/tutorial discussions. | 1 - 11 | August/September reassessment period |
| Blog/Podcast blog or an audio/audio-visual podcast. | Blog/Podcast written blog or an audio/audio-visual podcast. 1500 words or 10-15 mins | 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 | August/September reassessment period |
| Viva/oral exam: live Q&A with module tutor ( 10 15 minutes equivalent to 1500 words) | Viva/oral exam: live Q&A with module tutor (10 15 minutes equivalent to 1500 words) | 1-12 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Basic reading:
Baynes-Rock, M., 2015. Among the bone eaters: Encounters with hyenas in Harar. Penn State Press.
Candea, M. 2010. ‘I fell in love with Carlos the Meerkat’: engagement and detachment in human–animal relations. American Ethnologist 37(2): 241–258.
Govindrajan, R., 2018. Animal intimacies: Interspecies relatedness in India's central Himalayas. In Animal Intimacies. University of Chicago Press.
Hamilton, L. and Taylor, N., 2017. Ethnography after humanism: Power, politics and method in multi-species research. Springer.
Hartigan Jr, J., 2021. Knowing animals: Multispecies ethnography and the scope of anthropology. American Anthropologist, 123(4), pp.846-860.
Hurn, S. 2012. Humans and Other Animals.London: Pluto Press.
Ingold, T. (ed.) 2016. What is an animal? London: Routledge.
Kirksey, E. and Helmreich, S. 2010. The emergence of multispecies ethnography. Cultural Anthropology 25: 545–576.
Knight, J. ed., 2020. Animals in person: Cultural perspectives on human-animal intimacies. Routledge.
Kohn, E. 2007. How dogs dream: Amazonian natures and the politics of trans-species engagement. American Ethnologist 34: 3–24.
Kopnina, H., 2017. Beyond multispecies ethnography: Engaging with violence and animal rights in anthropology. Critique of anthropology, 37(3), pp.333-357.
MacClancy, J. and Fuentes, A., 2011. Centralizing fieldwork. Centralizing Fieldwork: Critical Perspectives from Primatology, Biological and Social Anthropology, New York: Berghahn Books, pp.1-26.
Srinivasan, K., 2013. The biopolitics of animal being and welfare: Dog control and care in the UK and India. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 38(1), pp.106-119.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Web based and electronic resources:
Anthrozoos (http://www.bergpublishers.com/?TabId=519)
Humanimalia (http://www.depauw.edu/humanimalia/)
Society & Animals (http://www.societyandanimalsforum.org/sa/index.html)
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 04/09/2012 |
| Last revision date | 17/04/2025 |
