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Social Anthropology

Code: 101136 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
2500262 Sociology OT 4

Contact

Name:
Laia Narciso Pedro
Email:
laia.narciso@uab.cat

Teachers

Anna Molas Closas
Alice Marie Sophie van den Bogaert

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There is no prerequisites.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The subject Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology is a first approach to the study of human sociocultural variability, from a comparative perspective.
										
											
										
											Throughout the semester, the basic concepts and key themes of Social and Cultural Anthropology are presented and developed. 
The classic thematic areas will be discussed, the anthropological perspectives on difference and inequality and some of the most recent developments in the discipline will be introduced. 
Through the study of ethnographic cases that illustrate cultural diversity and highlight the contrasts and similarities with the sociocultural context itself, and with the support of reading and audiovisual materials, 
students will gain a basic knowledge of the anthropological methodology and its ethnographic techniques that they can integrate into their sociological training.
										
											
										
											  
										
											
										
											Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
										
											
										
											Faced with the challenges that different societies face, in 2015 the United Nations (UN) defined 17 goals for sustainable development (ODS), which are broken down into 169 goals. 
The SDGs address issues that affect different areas, from the eradication of poverty to the preservation of marine life. These are the objectives that must be achieved by 2030, and that challenge the whole of society.
										
											
										
											The ODS included in this subject are the following:
										
											
										
											SDG 1: End poverty
										
											
										
											SDG 5: Gender equality
										
											
										
											ODS 10: Reduction of inequalities
										
											
										
											ODS 11: Sustainable cities and communities
										
											
										
											ODS 12: Responsible consumption and production
										
											
										
											ODS 16: Strong institutions of Peace and Justice

Competences

  • Applying the concepts and approaches of the sociological theory, specially the explanations of social inequalities between classes, between genders and between ethnic groups, to the implementation of public policies and to the resolution of conflict situations.
  • Demonstrating a comprehension of the approaches of the sociological theory in its different aspects, interpretations and historical context.
  • Describing social phenomena in a theoretically relevant way, bearing in mind the complexity of the involved factors, its causes and its effects.
  • Developing self-learning strategies.
  • Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Defining the sociological concepts that interpret the cultural phenomena.
  2. Developing self-learning strategies.
  3. Distinguishing the underlying cultural phenomena of specific policies or conflicts.
  4. Explaining the social interpretations of culture according to these approaches.
  5. Relating the debates regarding these approaches, that refer to culture, with the historical context in which they emerged.
  6. Respecting the diversity and plurality of ideas, people and situations.

Content

Topic 1. Introduction:
										
											
										
											- Cultural diversity, otherness, naturalization, ethnocentrism, relativism.
										
											
										
											- The anthropological method and ethnographic techniques
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Topic 2. Socio-political classifications, construction of otherness and naturalization:
										
											
										
											- Racism
										
											
										
											- Cultural fundamentalism
										
											
										
											- Exoticism, Orientalism
										
											
										
											- Gender
										
											
										
											- Castes
										
											
										
											- Other classifications: by age, abilities, sexual orientation, class
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Topic 3. Kinship:
										
											
										
											- Terminology, filiation and alliance
										
											
										
											- Diversity of marriage models: polygyny, polyandry, sorority, levirate, same-sex marriages
										
											
										
											- New family models in the West
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Topic 4. Economy:
										
											
										
											- Adaptation strategies: hunting-gathering, horticulture, agriculture, livestock
										
											
										
											- Modes of production
										
											
										
											- Distribution and exchange: market, redistribution and reciprocity
										
											
										
											- Other economic systems
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Topic 5. Polictics:
										
											
										
											- Political structures
										
											
										
											- Authority and power
										
											
										
											- Inequalities
										
											
										
											- Resistances and agency
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Topic 6. Religiosity:
										
											
										
											- Ritual and rites of passage
										
											
										
											- Composition of religious phenomena
										
											
										
											- Ontologies
										
											
										
											- Modes of communication with the intangible: possession and shamanism
										
											
										
											- Syncretism

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Discussion of written and audiovisual texts. 25 1
Lectures with ICT support 30 1.2 1
Type: Supervised      
Class exercises and discussions. Group project. 35 1.4
Type: Autonomous      
Reading and text reviews and group project 60 2.4 1

Based on the idea that in the teaching and learning process the student take the leading role, active participation in class will be expected. The class method will include:

- Lectures on the topics of the program with ICT support.

‐ Reading and discussing specific chapters and articles in each section of the program.

- Viewing and discussing specific audiovisual materials in each section of the program.

- Class exercises carried out in  small groups; discussion and presentation of group remarks, questions and conclusions.

- Group project. Students will be expected to work in small and cooperative working groups, focusing in one specific challenge in relation to issues studied in class. The project will be presented in class (groups and presentation calendar in the virtual campus)

 

15 minutes of a class will be reserved, within the calendar established by the center / degree, for the completion by the students of the surveys of evaluation of the performance of the teaching staff and of evaluation of the subject. 

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Analytical essay 25% 0 0 2, 3, 5
Group work on synthesis of readings 25% 0 0 1, 3, 4, 5
Written exam 50% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 

Continuous assessment:
										
											
										
											The evaluation of the subject will be carried out procedurally through several tests:
										
											
										
											- Synthesis group work based on various readings: 25%
										
											
										
											- Analytical essay based on the reading of a monograph: 25%
										
											
										
											- Written exam on the content of the subject explained in the classroom: 50%
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											The final mark will be the average of the mark obtained in all the previously detailed sections.
										
											
										
											Those who do not reach a grade of 5 will be considered suspended and may opt for recovery if they have previously been assessed in activities that are equivalent to a minimum of two-thirds (60%) of the subject's total grade. Recovery will consist of a final synthesis test.
										
											
										
											At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of the qualifications.
										
											
										
											The student will receive the grade of "Not assessable" as long as he has not delivered a minimum of 60% of the assessment activities.
										
											
										
											The teaching staff has the right to require a minimum grade (which in no case will exceed 3.5/10) to be able to present themselves for the reassessment.
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											Unique assessment:
										
											
										
											- The student is responsible for carrying out all the necessary procedures to be able to take up this option within the deadlines established by the UAB.
										
											
										
											- The three tests will be given on the same day, when specified by the teaching staff.
										
											
										
											- The three tests will be: Exam (50%), individual work of synthesis (25%) and individual analytical essay (25%).
										
											
										
											- In no case will the level of demand be lower than the continuous evaluation.
										
											
										
											 
										
											
										
											plagiarism
										
											
										
											In the event that the student commits any irregularity that could lead to a significant variation in the grade of an assessment act, this assessment act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instituted. In the event that several irregularities occur in the evaluation acts of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.

Bibliography

AGUIRRE, A. (ed.) (1982) Conceptos clave de la antropología cultural. Barcelona: Daimón. 

AUGÉ M. - COLLEYN J.P. (2005) Qué es la antropología. Barcelona: Paidós. 

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

BARRET, S. R. (1997) Anthropology: A student’s guide to Theory and Method. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 

BEALS, R. – HOIJER, H. (1978) Introducción a la antropología. Madrid: Aguilar. 

BEATTIE, J. (1972) Otras culturas. México: F.C.E. 

BOCK, Ph. (1977) Introducción a la moderna antropología cultural. México: F.C.E. BOHANNAN, P. (1996) Para raros, nosotros: introducción a la antropología cultural. Madrid: Ediciones Akal.

BOHANNAN, P. - GLAZER, M. (eds.) (1992) Antropología: lecturas. Madrid: McGraw-Hill. BOIVIN, M. – ROSATO, A. – ARRIBAS, V. (1998) Constructores de Otredad. Una introducción a la Antropología Social y Cultural. Buenos Aires: Eudeba. 

BONTE, P. i IZARD, M. (2008 [1991]) Etnología y Antropología. Madrid: Akal.

EMBER, C. (2003) Introducción a la Antropología. Madrid: McGraw-Hill. 

EMBER, C. R.- EMBER, M. (2004) Antropología cultural. Madrid: Prentice Hall. 

ESPINA BARRIO, A. B. (1992) Manual de Antropología cultural. Salamanca: Amarú ediciones. 

FRIGOLÉ, J. (et al.) (1995) Antropología Social. Barcelona: Edicions Proa. 

HARRIS, M. (2004) Introducción a la Antropología General. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. HARRIS, M. (2009 [1983]) Antropología cultural. Madrid: Alianza Editorial. 

HENDRY, J. (1999) An Introduction to Social Anthropology. Other People’s Worlds. Macmillan Press: London. 

HERSKOVITS, M. J. (1964) El hombre y sus obras. México: F.C.E. 

KAPLAN, D. – MANNERS, R.A. (1979) Introducción crítica a la teoría antropológica. México: Nueva Imagen. 

KOTTAK, C. Ph. (2002) Antropología cultural. Espejo para la humanidad. Madrid: McGraw-Hill. 

KOTTAK, Conrad Phillip (2006) Antropología cultural. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.

LINTON, R. (1972) Estudio del hombre. México: F.C.E., Breviarios. 

LISÓN C. (ed.) (2007) Introducción a la Antropología Social y Cultural. Teoría, método y práctica. Madrid: Akal. 

LLOBERA, J. R. (1975) La antropología como ciencia. Barcelona: Anagrama. 

LLOBERA, J. R. (1999) Manual d'antropologia social: estructura i evolució de les societats humanes. Edicions de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya: Pòrtic, Barcelona. 

LUQUE BAENA, E. (1985) Del conocimiento antropológico. Madrid: Siglo XXI editores. MALLART, Lluís (2009) Sóc fill dels evuzok, Barcelona, La Campana. 

ROSSI, I. - O’HIGGINS, E. (1981) Teorías de la cultura y métodos antropológicos. Barcelona: Anagrama. Diccionaris 


Software

No specific software required.


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed