Anthropology

Teacher(s)

Delchambre Jean-Pierre;

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

- The course is an introduction to social and cultural anthropology, which is one of the two main disciplines of the SOCA program. Addressing an audience of POLS students (+ options), it aims to familiarise with the main issues and questions of this discipline, in a way that is also beneficial to students who do not intend specifically to do anthropology in a professional way. - To situate (social and cultural) anthropology in relation to other disciplines of the human and social sciences, specifically sociology (to which the students have been introduced in the first term). - To present the emblematic methods of anthropology or ethnology (field survey, ethnographic description, participant observation, extended or multi-site case studies...) in relation to the model of knowledge in the social sciences. - To introduce to some learnings from the main fields of anthropology (about the study of myths rites, symbolic exchange, kinship systems, different types of societies or cultural models...). - To develop critical abilities: to distinguish the analytic and the normative register, to refer in an informed (or documented) way to historical contexts, to avoid the double pitfall of ethnocentrism and relativism.

Content

- Opening n ° 1: presentation of a classic object of anthropology and reflection on the transformations and appropriations of this object in the contemporary world - the case of shamanism and neochamanism.
- Opening n ° 2: diversity of models of society, reflection on the comparison criteria.
- The situation of anthropology or ethnology in the context of the emergence of this discipline (second half of the 19th century) and in the contemporary world. Comparison between a context marked by nation-states affirmation and colonialism, and a context now postcolonial, characterised by both globalisation and cultural diversity.
- Insights into the knowledge model and methods of anthropology.
- Evolutionism and its critics (culturalism and the recognition of specific cultural identities, structuralism and the rehabilitation of "wild thought", dynamic anthropology considering actors and conflicts...).
- Introduction to three major fields of anthropology: 1) the study of myths and rites (including the drivers of "symbolic efficiency"); 2) the symbolic exchange through the study of ceremonial mutual gift such as kula or potlatch (comparison with the economic or merchant exchange); 3) the kinship field (incest prohibition, the rules governing alliance and ancestry, different types of kinship systems...).

Teaching methods

The UE Anthropology consists of a theoretical course (30 hours) and a guided reading seminar (6 sessions of 1.5 hours). Description of the theoretical course : During the lecture, the professor presents the material in a lively, rigorous, and pedagogically appropriate manner, taking into account the fact that students have written materials (outline + lecture notes).  Students are encouraged to make complementary use of written materials and oral presentations.  The teaching method aims to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning, while enabling them to clarify and deepen their understanding of the elements of the subject that must be acquired and mastered. In addition, the professor may introduce and discuss examples related to current events, and students have the opportunity to participate and ask questions during the course.  It is strongly recommended that students: 1) attend class, 2) take good personal notes, 3) write their own summaries or syntheses (beware of the illusion of relying on AI: the goal is to acquire basic skills, not to be replaced by a machine!). Description of the guided reading seminar: This part of the EU consists of six guided reading sessions (for practical details, see the announcements that will be communicated at the beginning of the course).  These reading sessions are supervised by an assistant. The aim of these sessions is to complement the lectures, encourage active engagement with the subject matter, and support students in their learning (at a formal level: analytical reading of a number of scientific or popular science texts, and at a more informal level: understanding the expectations and requirements of university education).  Students will work from a selection of texts considered to be part of the course material and which will be assessed in the exam (see below).  These texts will relate to various themes and issues addressed in the theoretical course.  Participation in the guided reading sessions is recommended. In order for the exercise to be beneficial, students must have read the texts covered in the guided reading beforehand (bearing in mind that these texts, as mentioned above, form part of the exam material).

Evaluation methods

Assessment will take the form of a written exam covering both the lecture and the guided reading seminar (involving activity).  The exam assesses knowledge of the subject matter as well as understanding and assimilation of the texts that are part of the involving activity.  With regard to the material covered in class, students must be able to recall the key points, but also answer comprehension questions, which requires in-depth personal synthesis work and the ability to connect different elements of the course.  For the guided reading seminar, students must have a thorough knowledge of the texts studied during the sessions.  The assessment method is the same for the June and August/September sessions.  There is no supervision by the teaching assistant outside of the sessions scheduled during the four-month period in which the course is given.  The language of assessment is French. The use of generative AI is prohibited in this course.

Bibliography

Voir syllabus.

Faculty or entity

> ESPB