Cultural Anthropology
A.Y. 2020/2021
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide knowledge of the main epistemological paradigm of cultural anthropology:
- knowledge of main concepts and methods of anthropological knowledge;
- knowledge of the history of the concept of culture and ethnographic method;
- knowledge of the main aspects of the ethnographic method for the study of cities and urban communities.
- knowledge of main concepts and methods of anthropological knowledge;
- knowledge of the history of the concept of culture and ethnographic method;
- knowledge of the main aspects of the ethnographic method for the study of cities and urban communities.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should possess:
- In-Depth Knowledge of the concept of culture and ethnography;
- knowledge of the major anthropological theories and ability to use them to interpret and to analyse the main social processes of contemporaneity
- Critical thinking skills needed to compare different cultural contexts;
- Ability to apply anthropological Knowledge and understanding in relation to the construction of research design
- Awareness of the responsibility in applied anthropology
- Ability to analyse urban dynamics, in order to develop intervention and planning tools in city contexts;
- reading skills, also useful for application purposes, of the main phenomena affecting urban life forms, including, for example, forms of living, migration dynamics, dialectic between policies and practices, governance.
- In-Depth Knowledge of the concept of culture and ethnography;
- knowledge of the major anthropological theories and ability to use them to interpret and to analyse the main social processes of contemporaneity
- Critical thinking skills needed to compare different cultural contexts;
- Ability to apply anthropological Knowledge and understanding in relation to the construction of research design
- Awareness of the responsibility in applied anthropology
- Ability to analyse urban dynamics, in order to develop intervention and planning tools in city contexts;
- reading skills, also useful for application purposes, of the main phenomena affecting urban life forms, including, for example, forms of living, migration dynamics, dialectic between policies and practices, governance.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
The lessons will be held in presence for a limited number of students corresponding to the capacity of the classroom in safety. They can be followed at a distance both in synchronous and asynchronous because they will be registered and left available to students on the same platform.
Course syllabus
The course aims at revising the main historical steps of anthropological thought as knowledge of the difference (which intends to think, understand and describe cultural otherness) and as critical knowledge (whose aim is the deconstruction of our common sense).
Particular relevance will be given to the analysis of current transformations both at epistemological and at methodological level, ranging from anthropology as science of "primitive", traditional societies to anthropology as knowledge of complex societies, whose aim is the analysis of the local and global expressions. We will discuss the following topics: progress, cultural relativism, gift, care, etnich identity, mobility.
A part of the course will be dedicated to the relationship between anthropology and cities. On one side, this dialogue will be examined through the historical journey that brought the discipline to interest in urban contexts; on the other, focusing on ethnographic cases, that will be analysed also with the presence of guests, will be examined some of the main themes that characterise the contemporary urban anthropology.
Particular relevance will be given to the analysis of current transformations both at epistemological and at methodological level, ranging from anthropology as science of "primitive", traditional societies to anthropology as knowledge of complex societies, whose aim is the analysis of the local and global expressions. We will discuss the following topics: progress, cultural relativism, gift, care, etnich identity, mobility.
A part of the course will be dedicated to the relationship between anthropology and cities. On one side, this dialogue will be examined through the historical journey that brought the discipline to interest in urban contexts; on the other, focusing on ethnographic cases, that will be analysed also with the presence of guests, will be examined some of the main themes that characterise the contemporary urban anthropology.
Prerequisites for admission
The course requires the knowledge of twentieth century history and history of philosophy.
Teaching methods
The teaching of the course offers lectures, practical exercises, case studies, guest lectures, video projection.
Slides, educational material, references will be available at the end of each lesson on the course website abiscaldi.ariel.ctu.unimi.it end in Teams.
Slides, educational material, references will be available at the end of each lesson on the course website abiscaldi.ariel.ctu.unimi.it end in Teams.
Teaching Resources
Fabietti, Ugo, Storia dell'antropologia, quarta edizione, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2020 (capitoli 2,3,4,6,8,9,11,13,14,15,17,18,20 e relative letture)
- Giacompo Pozzi, Fuori casa. Antropologia degli sfratti a Milano, Ledizioni, Milano, 2020
Non attending students will add:
-Angela Biscaldi, Relativismo culturale. In difesa di un pensiero libero, Utet, Torino, 2009
- Giacompo Pozzi, Fuori casa. Antropologia degli sfratti a Milano, Ledizioni, Milano, 2020
Non attending students will add:
-Angela Biscaldi, Relativismo culturale. In difesa di un pensiero libero, Utet, Torino, 2009
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam is an oral exam where students will discuss topics covered during the course. The grades are on a scale of 30.
During the course students will be given short individual exercises which will also be the exam topic.
During the course students will be given short individual exercises which will also be the exam topic.
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Biscaldi Angela
Professor(s)