AR1SOC10-Contemporary world cultures: an introduction to social anthropology [10 credits]

Module Provider: Archaeology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Alanna Cant
Email: a.m.cant@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module provides a general introduction to social anthropology, the study of human societies and cultures. It will introduce you to major themes in the discipline of anthropology through focused study on topics that may include: kinship and marriage, gender and sexuality, the roles of religion, ritual and witchcraft in modern life, the concepts of ethnicity and race, and contemporary hunting and gathering societies. The module will also consider how anthropology can help us understand key issues in today’s world, such as ethnicity, race and decolonisation, and the role that work and consumption play in forming identities. Teaching is focused on real-world case studies from different cultures and regions around the globe, including the research expertise of the lecturer(s).Ìý

Aims:

• To introduce you to anthropological theory and ethnographic texts.


• To examine different cultures and societies, including a range of political, economic, social, and religious systems found in different places.


• To introduce you to a range of research questions that anthropologists have investigated in societies around the world.


• To familiarize you with anthropological perspectives that can help you to understand contemporary global events, issues, and processes.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate an understanding of one or more key anthropological theories, supported by one or more contemporary case studies.


• Demonstrate an ability to apply anthropological theories and/or concepts to contemporary issues, in an appropriate, selective and informed way.

Additional outcomes:

By the end of this module, you will have greater confidence in your ability to apply your learning to a range of issues and current events, and you will have been introduced to some themes and issues that are relevant to related courses in human geography, archaeology and the social sciences and humanities more broadly.

Outline content:

Students on this module will learn about social anthropology by engaging with research about different cultures and societies from around the world. The lectures, readings and assignments may focus on case studies from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, Asia, and Europe. ÌýThrough these case studies, students will encounter a wide range of topics ranging from family life to economic processes.

Specific themes will vary but may include: kinship, gender and sexuality; the human body and the senses; religion and ritual; beliefs in witchcraft and the supernatural; contemporary hunting and gathering societies; ethnicity and race; and working life.

A key emphasis of the module is how anthropological theories and perspectives can help us to understand contemporary issues in today’s world, such as modernity, globalisation, decolonisation and identity. The module will also explore relevant connections between anthropology, archaeology and human geography, as well as themes in the social sciences and humanities more broadly. Ìý

Global context:

Social anthropology is inherently global, as anthropological research is typically conducted by people who are not from the places that they study. This module encourages students to learn about different peoples and places from around the world in order to consider how our cultural differences and similarities make us human. Ìý

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module is divided into ten weeks of teaching, consisting of a lecture each week. Learning is supported by independent reading and extra materials on Blackboard, which may include screencasts, video clips or online activities. As a 10-credit module, AR1SOC10 should involve 100 hours of study time: attending lectures, general back