Basic Concepts Anthropological Perspectives on Difference and Inequality
Code: 101278 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500256 Social and Cultural Anthropology | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jordi Castellvi Girbau
- Email:
- Jordi.Castellvi@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Isabel Graupera Gargallo
Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites.
Objectives and Contextualisation
The general objective of the course is to offer a first approach to the basic concepts of the discipline and the perspective of anthropological analysis, based on the affirmation of the existence of a shared and at the same time culturally diverse humanity. It provides an overview of the main concepts of social and cultural anthropology, emphasizing the mechanisms of construction of differences and social inequalities.
The course will offer a general overview of anthropology as a discipline and the way in which the analysis of sociocultural differences has been considered, referring to the main concepts and methodologies used, as well as the authors and fundamental texts. The aim is to illustrate the human cultural diversity theoretically and ethnographically, and to make known the forms as socially and from the anthropological discipline concepts and speeches have been constructed to explain it. Likewise, the social mechanisms of construction of inequalities will be explained from the differences and will be contrasted with the discourses and practices of social exclusion that have been elaborated throughout history and that are still present at present time.
It aims to approach a way of looking and analysing the world without falling into simplistic approaches and exclusionary or reductionist positions, giving the basis of informed knowledge that allows developing a critical spirit in order to reflect on the current social reality and propose alternatives to build an equal coexistence between different societies and human cultures.
Competences
- Apprehending cultural diversity through ethnography and critically assessing ethnographic materials as knowledge of local contexts and as a proposal of theoretical models.
- Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the history of anthropological theory and the genesis of its basic concepts.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
Learning Outcomes
- Analysing a contemporary fact from an anthropological perspective.
- Applying the basic concepts of the anthropological theory.
- Applying the knowledge of cultural variability and its genesis to avoid ethnocentric projections.
- Engaging in debates about historical and contemporary facts and respecting the other participants' opinions.
- Identifying the theories concerning the different meanings of the concept of culture.
- Interpreting the cultural diversity through ethnography.
- Knowing and assessing the various processes of intercultural relationship.
- Knowing and understanding the theories concerning the different meanings of the concept of culture.
- Using the basic concepts of Social and Cultural Anthropology for the understanding of relationships between various societies and cultures.
Content
TOPIC 1. Introduction
Human diversity and its interpretation. Paradigms on human diversity: the debate between nature and culture.
TOPIC 2. Historical Approach to Anthropology
Background: the concept of alterity in Western history. The emergence of academic anthropology.
TOPIC 3. Anthropology in the field of human and social sciences.
Object, method and anthropological techniques. Ethnography and fieldwork. Emic and Etic perspectives.
TOPIC 4. The formal study of cultural variability
The idea of culture and other associated concepts. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.
TOPIC 5. Difference and inequality
Speeches on otherness. The attitude to difference. Identities. Race, ethnicity, gender. Inclusion and exclusion processes.
Methodology
.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Master classes | 38 | 1.52 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 4, 9, 2 |
| Presentation of text and discussion | 6 | 0.24 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 4, 9, 2 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutorials | 5 | 0.2 | 3, 7, 8, 5, 4, 9, 2 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Preparation of essays | 38 | 1.52 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 2 |
| Study and personal work | 42 | 1.68 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 2 |
Assessment
Delivery of essays: 40%
Presentations and active participation in the classroom: 20%
Theoretical exams: 40%
At the beginning of the course, a schedule will be presented with the dates of the evaluation tests and the specific content of the exercises. This information will be available in the respective Moodle group 1 and group 2. Regularly consultation of Moodle is required.
In order to pass, all the exercises must be presented on the dates set at the beginning of the coursei except if it is rightly justified. Failed tests may be re-evaluated on the dates of re-evaluation.
To participate in the re-evaluation process students must have been previously evaluated (does not mean approved) in a set of activities whose weight equals to a minimum of 2/3 parts of the total grade or 60% of the final grade. To participate in the re-evaluation process, the professor responsible for the subject can demand that they have obtained a minimum grade in the average of the subject. This rating cannot exceed in any case 3,5 /10. This measure will be applied or not at the discretion of the professor in charge.
The activities that the professor considers to be unrecoverable can be excluded from the re-evaluation process, at a date or moment later than those established to be carried out (for example: oral presentations, group work, tasks related to the daily teaching activity). In this case, the professor responsible will explicitly state in the program those partial evaluation activities that, according to their criteria and depending on their nature, are not recoverable.
At the time of each evaluation activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date to review the qualifications.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless ofany disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delivery of essays | 40% | 15 | 0.6 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 2 |
| Presentations and active participation in the classroom | 20% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 3, 8, 5, 6, 4, 9, 2 |
| Theoretical exams | 40% | 3 | 0.12 | 1, 3, 7, 8, 5, 6, 9, 2 |
Bibliography
Reference manual for this course:
Laburthe-Tolra; Jean-Pierre Warnier 1998 (1993) Etnología y antropología. Madrid: Akal
Other manuals and reference works:
AADD (1993) Diccionari d’antropologia. Barcelona: TERMCAT
Augé M.; Colleyn J.P. 2005 Qué es la antropología. Barcelona: Paidós
Bonte, Pierre; Izard, M. 1996 (1991) Diccionario de etnología y antropología. Madrid: Akal.
Frigolé, Joan et al 1995 Antropologia social. Barcelona: Proa
Harris, M. 1998 Introducción a la antropología general. Madrid: Alianza
Kottak, Conrad Phillip. 2005 (2002) Introducción a la antropología cultural. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
Lisón Tolosana, Carmelo (ed.) 2007 Introducción a la Antropología Social y Cultural. Teoría, método y práctica. Madrid: Akal
Llobera, Josep Ramon 1999 Manual d’antropologia social. Barcelona: Ediuoc.
Mair, Lucy 1998 (1965) Introducción a la antropología social. Madrid: Alianza
Thematic bibliography:
González Echevarria, Aurora; San Roman Espinosa, Teresa; Valdés, Ramón 2000 Tres escritos introductorios al estudio del parentesco. Bellaterra: UAB Servei de Publicacions
Hammersley, Martyn; Paul Atkinson 1994 (1983) Etnografia. Barcelona: Paidós
Harris, M. 1999 El desarrollo de la teoría antropológica: historia de las teorías de la cultura. Madrid: Siglo XXI
Lewellen, Ted C. 1984 (1983) Antropología Política. Barcelona: Edicions Bellaterra
Llobera, José R. 1975 La antropologia como ciencia. Barcelona: Anagrama.
Molina, José Luís; Valenzuela, Hugo 2007 Invitación a la antropología económica. Barcelona: Edicions Bellaterra
Morris, Brian 1995 Introducciónal estudio antropológico de la religión. Barcelona: Paidós
Narotzky, Susana 2004. Antropologia econòmica. Nuevas tendencias. Barcelona: Melusina.
Prat, Joan 2007 Los sentidos de la vida. Barcelona: Bellaterra.
Prat, Joan (coord.) 2004 I… això és la meva vida. Barcelona: Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Cultura
Prats. Llorens 1997 Antropologia y patrimonio. Barcelona: Ariel
San Roman, Teresa 1996 Los muros de la separación. Ensayo sobre alterofobia y filantropía. Madrid: Tecnos
Salazar, Carles 2009 Antropologia de les creences. Religió, simbolisme, irracionalitat. Barcelona: Fragmenta.