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2020/2021

History of Anthropology II: from the Classical Schools to Postmodernism

Code: 105765 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500256 Social and Cultural Anthropology OB 2 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Maria Montserrat Clua Fainé
Email:
Montserrat.Clua@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

Prerequisites

This subject does not have prerequisites but it is recommended that you should previously have studied the subject "History of Anthropology I: Antecedents to Boas" to have successful learning.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This subject is part of the area "History of Anthropology" and continues the historical development of anthropology started the first semester of the second year with the "History of Anthropology I". This part is done in the second semester of 2nd year and explains the main schools and theoretical paradigms that developed in the hegemonic anthropologies after the Second World War until reaching the post-colonial crisis of the 70s and the first postmodern approaches.

Its primary formative purpose is to give historical coherence to the readings that are done in a dispersed way throughout the Degree and that are systematized in very different ways in the rest of the subjects. At the end of the course the students should be able to give a reason for:

a) The general, theoretical and methodological characteristics of the different schools or currents that have occurred in this period of the history of anthropology;

b) The theses and main developments of each of the authors considered.

Competences

  • Apprehending cultural diversity through ethnography and critically assessing ethnographic materials as knowledge of local contexts and as a proposal of theoretical models.
  • Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • 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.
  • Using the discipline's ethnographic and theoretical corpus with analytical and synthesis skills.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Applying the basic concepts of the anthropological theory.
  2. Critically assessing ethnographic materials as a proposal for theoretical models.
  3. Establishing historical connection between ethnographic and theoretical development.
  4. Explaining aspects of the history of science by using the discipline's specific terminology.
  5. Explaining the specific notions of the history of science.
  6. Identifying main and supporting ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  7. Identifying the key elements of the western cultural tradition from the 19th century to the present day.
  8. Identifying the recent disciplinary developments and the correlation between the anthropological theory and the social disciplines related in their historical development and the current interdisciplinary tendencies.
  9. Identifying the theories about human species in their relation to society and culture production.
  10. Integrating holistically the progress from the classical fields of Anthropology.
  11. Recognizing and interpreting the main theoretical orientations throughout the discipline's history from the 19th century to the present day.

Content

UNIT I. Introduction: what kind of History of what Anthropologies?

UNIT II. British Functionalism and Evans-Pritchard

UNIT III. French Anthropology and the Structuralism of Lévi-Strauss

UNIT IV. USA anthropology post-II World War: the dispute between Materialist and Symbolist Perspectives

UNIT V. Materialisms: Marvin Harris

UNIT VI. Symbolisms: Marshall Sahlins

UNIT VII. The Fall of The Wall And the Postmodern Turn: Clifford Geertz

Methodology

The student is the protagonist in the teaching-learning process, who must deepen the theoretical content exposed in class with complementary readings, through the use of handbooks and reading the mandatory authors' texts, as well as other recommended readings. Autonomous work by students consists mainly of the search, understanding and analysis of information, realization of the planned readings, realization and delivery of the corresponding works, and participation in guided discussions.

Given the high theoretical content of this subject, it is recommended to read the texts during the course and not to leave them for the last moment. It is convenient to work well on the readings (underlining, making diagrams, and summaries) to complement the notes and to prepare the discussion exercises in the classroom. A list of handbooks is offered in the General Bibliography to complement learning.

The student must take into account that the Virtual Campus is the space through which basic information of the subject is notified (schedules of tutorials, changes of dates in the activities or scheduled deliveries, debates on virtual forums, news, etc.). Therefore, it is his/her responsibility to be attentive to the news and information that is hanging during the course.

The methodology involves continued work through:

Theoretical and practical classes led by the teaching staff: Masterclasses with ICT support and large group discussion seminars and text discussions.

Searching for documentation, reading texts, writing work: Definition of keywords and search strategies and bibliographic databases; comprehensive reading of texts, reviews, and bibliographic essays in groups and from a guide for their realization.

Study: Realization of schemes, conceptual maps, and summaries.

Tutorials: Personal attention to the student.The tutorials will be held in the B9/209 office or by virtual forms within the hours indicated by the lecturer on the first day of class and in the Campus Virtual.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Discussion of readings 9 0.36 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Master classes 40 1.6 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Type: Supervised      
Individual and group tutorials 2 0.08 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Type: Autonomous      
Readings 15 0.6 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Studing and personal work 40 1.6 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Works 30 1.2 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1

Assessment

Evaluation of the course is understood as a continuous and progressive process, which extends throughout the course period and is developed from the realization of different assessment activities:

WORK MODULE (30% of the final grade):

Group work on a book of an author chosen by the students from a list proposed by the teacher. The guideline for the completion of the work and the evaluation rubric will be provided at the beginning of course.

PARTICIPATION MODULE (20% of the final grade): this module is not recoverable.

There will be several compulsory readings of texts of the authors worked in class that will be discussed collectively (in the classroom or through the Virtual Campus forum). The evaluation will take into account not only the number of debates where the student has participated but also on the quality of the intervention, as well as the participation on the day scheduled for the debate. The evidence on the participation will be the written contributions derived from the activities carried out.

WRITTEN TEST MODULE (50% of the final grade):

There will be two exams (25% each) on the course themes and the compulsory readings.

To pass the course, students will need to obtain a minimum score of 5 resulting from the average of the marks obtained in each of the activities (according to the percentage of each in the final note). 

At the time of carrying out each evaluation activity, the lecturer will inform the students (in the classroom or via Virtual Campus) of the procedure and date of review of the qualifications.

At the beginning of the course, the schedule will be reached with the dates of completion of the work, discussion of compulsory readings, and exams. Also, it will be given the compulsory readings in PDF format at Virtual Campus.

ASSESSMENT IN CASE OF NON-PRESENTIAL SITUATION:

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 CRITERIA

All activities have a deadline that must be met strictly, according to the proposed schedule. The absence or delivery outside the term of the evaluation activities without a justified and accredited cause means that the activity will not be evaluated.

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 of any 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.

NOT ASSESSABLE

The student will receive the grade of Not assessable as long as he/she has not submitted the first exam (25%) and at least 50% of the discussions of the readings in the classroom, except for justified and duly accredited reasons.

RECOVERY CRITERIA

Suspended students who meet the criteria to be assessable (ie who have completed the first exam (25%) and at least 50% of the discussions) and have obtained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 will be eligible for recovery. Recovery will consist of an examen of the suspended part. The participation module is not recoverable.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Works 30% 1 0.04 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Written Tests 50% 4 0.16 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1
Writting and Discussion of readings 20% 9 0.36 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 7, 6, 9, 10, 11, 1

Bibliography

RECOMMENDED HANDBOOKS:

BONTE, Pierre & IZARD, Michael: Diccionario de Etnología y Antropología, Madrid: Akal, 1996.

BARNARD, Alan & SPENCER, Jonathan: Encyclopedia of social and Cultural Anthropology, London: Routledge, 1996 (2002).

ENCICLOPEDIA INTERNACIONAL DE LAS CIENCIAS SOCIALES, dirigida por David L. Sills [Ed. Española, director Vicente Cervera Tomás], Madrid: Aguilar, 1974-1977.

HARRIS, Marvin, El desarrollo de la teoría antropológica, Madrid, Siglo XXI, 1983.

MARTÍNEZ VEIGA, Ubaldo, Historia de la antropología. Teorías, praxis y lugares de estudio, Madrid: UNED, 2008.

MARZAL, Manuel, Historia de la antropología. Volumen 2.Antropología cultural, Quito: Ediciones Abya-Yala, 1996.

MARZAL, Manuel, Historia de la antropología. Volumen 3.Antropología social, Quito: Ediciones Abya-Yala, 1996.

REYNOSO, C., Corrientes en antropología contemporánea, Buenos Aires, Biblos, 1998.

REYNOSO, C. (compl), El surgimiento de la antropología postmoderna, México: Gedisa, 1992.

REYNOSO, C. Corrientes teóricas en Antropología: Perspectivas desde el Siglo XXI, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 2020.

SAHLINS, Marshall: Cultura y razón práctica. Contra el utilitarismo en la teoría antropológica, Barcelona: Gedisa, 1988. 

FURTHER READING:

AZCONA, J., Para comprender la antropología, Estella, Verbo Divino, 1987 (vol. 1, "La historia"; vol. 2, "La cultura").

BARTH, F. et alt. (2012). Una disciplina, cuatro caminos. Antropologíabritánica, alemana, francesa y estadounidense. Buenos Aires: Prometeo Libros.

BOHANNAN, P. y GLAZER, M., Antropología. Lecturas, Barcelona, McGraw Hill Interamericana, 1992.

CARO BAROJA, J., Los fundamentos del pensamiento antropológico moderno, Madrid, CSIC, 1991.

DARNELL, Regna (comp.), Readings in the History of Anthropology, New York, Harper & Row Publishers, 1974.

DESCOLA, Ph. et alt., Les idées de l'anthropologie, París, A. Colin, 1988.

ERIKSEN, Thomas Hylland & NIELSEN, Finn Sivert (2001). A history of Anthropology. London: Pluto Press.

EVANS-PRITCHARD, E.E., Historia del pensamiento antropológico, Madrid, Cátedra, 1987.

GEERTZ, C., El antropólogo como autor, Madrid: Paidós, 1989

GEERTZ, C., Tras los hechos. Dos paises, cuatro décadas y un antropólogo, Madrid: Paidós.

KAHN, J.S. (ed.), El concepto de cultura: textos fundamentales, Barcelona, Anagrama, 1975.

KAPLAN, D. y MANNERS, R.A., Introducción crítica a la antropología cultural México, Nueva Imagen, 1979.

KILANI, Mondher, Introduction à l'anthropologie, Paris, Editions Payot, 1996.

KUPER, A., Cultura. La versión de los antropólogos, Barcelona: Paidós, 2001.

LINS RIBEIRO, G. & ESCOBAR, A. (eds.), Antropologías del mundo. Transformaciones disciplinarias dentro de sistemas de poder, México: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana/Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social/ Universidad Iberoamericana/Envión/The Wenner-Gren International, 2009.

LLOBERA, J.R., La antropología como ciencia, Barcelona, Anagrama, 1975 (especialmente, Llobera, J.R.: "Postcriptum: algunas tesis provisionales sobre la naturaleza de la antropología", pág. 373-287).

LOMBARD, J., L´anthropologie britannique contemporaine, París, P.U.F., 1972.

LOMBARD, J., Introducción a la etnología, Madrid, Alianza editorial, 1997.

LOWIE, R.H., Historia de la etnología, México, F.C.E., 1946.

MERCIER, P., Historia de la antropología, Madrid, Península, 1995.

ORTNER, Sherry, "Teoría en Antropología desde los sesentas" Estudios comparativos en Sociedad e Historia 26(1):126-166, 1984.

PALERM, A., Historia de la etnología: los profesionales británicos, México, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 1977.

ROSSI, I. y O'HIGGINS, E., Teorías de la cultura y métodos antropológicos, Barcelona, Anagrama, 1981.

SPERBER, D., El simbolismo en general, Barcelona: Anthropos, 1988.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.), Observers observed. Essays on Ethnographic Fieldwork [History of Anthropology (I),] Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1985.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.), Functionalism Historicized. Essays on British Social Anthropology [History of Anthropology (II)], Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1984.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.), Objects and Others. Essays on Museums and Material Culture [History of Anthropology (III)], Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1985.

STOCKING, G. W. (ed.), Malinowski, Rivers, Benedict and Others. Essays on Culture and Personality [History of Anthropology (IV)], Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1986.

STOCKING. G. W., After Tylor. British Social Anthropology, 1888-1951, London, The Athlone Press,1999.

STOLCKE, Verena, “De padres, filiaciones y malas memoria. Qué historias de qué antropologías?” J. Bestard i Camps (coord.), Después de Malinowski. Sta Cruz de Tenerife: Asociación Canaria de Antropología, pp. 147-198, 1993.