CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
OVERVIEW
The course aims to highlight the central role of Cultural Anthropology, the most important concepts and the most commonly used tools of this discipline. The course will examine the main theoretical approaches of the history of anthropological studies, from Evolutionism to Functionalism, from Structuralism to Intepretive Anthropology.
AIMS AND CONTENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to highlight the central role of Cultural Anthropology, the most important concepts and the most used tools of discipline. The course will examine the main theoretical approaches of the history of anthropological studies, from Evolutionism to Functionalism, from Structuralism to Intepretive Anthropology. The course will analyse the approaches most used by anthropologists, from Universalism to Relativism and also the core concepts of the discipline: culture, identity, tradition, transcultural processes, miscegenation, development, decrease. In particular, the lessons will focus on the themes of migrations according to the anthropological point of view in order to avoid the emerging forms of racism in our society.
AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
The aim is to provide students with cognitive and methodological tools in order to
deepen the themes related to the meeting between cultures and cultural ibridation, with particular reference to the South America. The analysis of the universalistic and relativistic positions will lead to reflect about transcultural processes and other current issues in the age of global migrations. Another aim of the course is the assessment of cultural miscegenation as an ideal mediation between homogenisation and multicultural fragmentation.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, with written or multimedial exercises on themes at students choice
SYLLABUS/CONTENT
What is Anthropology?
Which is the role of Anthropologists today?
The main antropological currents in history
Universalism and Relativism
Miscegenation vs Racism
RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mandatory texts
1) Ugo Fabietti, Stora dell'Antropologia, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2011
(eventualmente un altro manuale di Storia del pensiero antropologico)
2) Barba B., Dio negro, mondo meticcio, Seid, Firenze, 2013.
3) a choice of 1 text among the following:
- Collier P, Exodus. I tabù dell’immigrazione, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2015.
-Sen A., Lo sviluppo è libertà, Mondadori
-Latouche S., La fine del mondo occidentale, Eléuthera, Milano
-Shalins M., Un grosso sbaglio, Eléuthera, Milano
-Burleigh M., La genesi del mondo contemporaneo, Feltrinelli
-Said, E., Orientalismo, Feltrinelli.
Altre indicazioni bibliografiche verranno fornite durante il corso.
Other recommended texts will be given during the course
TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD
Ricevimento: Thuesday 9-12 Wednesday 9-12
Exam Board
MAURO SPOTORNO (President)
SALVATORE BRUNO BARBA (President)
GIAN MARCO UGOLINI
ELEONORA PANIZZA
STEFANIA MANGANO
PIETRO PIANA
LESSONS
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons, with written or multimedial exercises on themes at students choice
LESSONS START
Monday, 17 semptember
EXAMS
Exam description
Oral exam
Assessment methods
At the end of the course, students will be able to describe the main currents of anthropological taught; to analyse the functioning of dinamycs of cultural transmission and changement; to make original hypothesis about the future of cultural ibridation