Cultural Anthropology
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a solid general knowledge of the basic concepts, theoretical frameworks and methodological instruments of Cultural Anthropology, and to enable them to use the anthropological thought as a critical contribution to their own future studies, researches and activities in intercultural contexts.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the theoretical fundamentals of Cultural Anthropology;
- knows the main perspectives of anthropological reflection about culture, worldviews, cultural diversity;
- knows the main methodological instruments (including participant observation as immersive research practice and the comparative method) and and the basic bibliographic elements of intellectual work in the field of Cultural Anthropology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- can put forward and outline the main conceptual contributions of Cultural Anthropology;
- can articulate anthropological reflections with respect to specific contexts;
- can apply knowledge for the purpose of i
nterpreting and commenting situations, written and oral texts, videos and social media contents;
- can deal with bibliographies in the anthropological domain.
At the end of the course, the student
- knows the theoretical fundamentals of Cultural Anthropology;
- knows the main perspectives of anthropological reflection about culture, worldviews, cultural diversity;
- knows the main methodological instruments (including participant observation as immersive research practice and the comparative method) and and the basic bibliographic elements of intellectual work in the field of Cultural Anthropology.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
- can put forward and outline the main conceptual contributions of Cultural Anthropology;
- can articulate anthropological reflections with respect to specific contexts;
- can apply knowledge for the purpose of i
nterpreting and commenting situations, written and oral texts, videos and social media contents;
- can deal with bibliographies in the anthropological domain.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Cognomi A-K
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
1. Lessons for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
The course will provide an introduction to the theoretical framework, the history and research methodologies in cultural anthropology. It will also include an overview on the main subjects of the discipline, such as the Nature/Culture dichotomy, cultural diversity, the politics of belonging, different social structures and worldviews and mobility . With specific reference to the latter (mobility), the course will deal with a specific case-study about mutual aid associations among Congolese migrants and refugees.
Additional lessons for 9 ECTS program:
2. This part of the course will deal with ethnographic monographs
The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy and to all students of other degree courses of the University of Milan who are interested in learning the basic theoretical concepts of Cultural Anthropology.
The course will provide an introduction to the theoretical framework, the history and research methodologies in cultural anthropology. It will also include an overview on the main subjects of the discipline, such as the Nature/Culture dichotomy, cultural diversity, the politics of belonging, different social structures and worldviews and mobility . With specific reference to the latter (mobility), the course will deal with a specific case-study about mutual aid associations among Congolese migrants and refugees.
Additional lessons for 9 ECTS program:
2. This part of the course will deal with ethnographic monographs
The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy and to all students of other degree courses of the University of Milan who are interested in learning the basic theoretical concepts of Cultural Anthropology.
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is needed
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Debate and discussion
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
S. Allovio, Ricreare mondi. Mobilità e mutuo aiuto tra Kinshasa e Cape Town, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Readings and assignments for non-attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
S. Allovio, Ricreare mondi. Mobilità e mutuo aiuto tra Kinshasa e Cape Town, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.
E. Fabiano e G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Dialoghi con i non umani (Molimo n. 9), Milan, Mimesis, 2019 (introduction and five chapters chosen by students)
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
S. Allovio, Ricreare mondi. Mobilità e mutuo aiuto tra Kinshasa e Cape Town, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Readings and assignments for non-attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
S. Allovio, Ricreare mondi. Mobilità e mutuo aiuto tra Kinshasa e Cape Town, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2023.
E. Fabiano e G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Dialoghi con i non umani (Molimo n. 9), Milan, Mimesis, 2019 (introduction and five chapters chosen by students)
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be oral. Its purpose will be to test the knowledge of the volumes indicated in the reading list, with reference to the theoretical framework, the methods and the research topics of cultural anthropology.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course;
- ability to exemplify concepts;
- adequacy of lexicon
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course;
- ability to exemplify concepts;
- adequacy of lexicon
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Cognomi L-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy and to all students of other degree courses of the University of Milan who are interested in learning the basic theoretical concepts of Cultural Anthropology.
1. Lessons for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
The course will provide an introduction to the theoretical framework, the history and research methodologies in cultural anthropology. It will also include an overview on the main subjects of the discipline, such as the Nature/Culture dichotomy, cultural diversity, the politics of belonging, different social structures and worldviews, mobility and the environment. With specific reference to the latter (environment), the course will deal with a specific case-study about the protection of the environment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Additional lessons for 9 ECTS program:
2. This part of the course will deal with ethnographic monographs
1. Lessons for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
The course will provide an introduction to the theoretical framework, the history and research methodologies in cultural anthropology. It will also include an overview on the main subjects of the discipline, such as the Nature/Culture dichotomy, cultural diversity, the politics of belonging, different social structures and worldviews, mobility and the environment. With specific reference to the latter (environment), the course will deal with a specific case-study about the protection of the environment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Additional lessons for 9 ECTS program:
2. This part of the course will deal with ethnographic monographs
Prerequisites for admission
No prior knowledge is needed
Teaching methods
Lectures
Debate and discussion
Debate and discussion
Teaching Resources
Readings and assignments for attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
G. Mangiameli, Le abitudini dell'acqua. Antropologia, ambiente e complessità in Africa occidentale, Milano, Unicopli, 2023.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Readings and assignments for non-attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
G. Mangiameli, Le abitudini dell'acqua. Antropologia, ambiente e complessità in Africa occidentale, Milano, Unicopli, 2023.
E. Fabiano e G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Dialoghi con i non umani (Molimo n. 9), Milan, Mimesis, 2019 (introduction and five chapters chosen by students)
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
G. Mangiameli, Le abitudini dell'acqua. Antropologia, ambiente e complessità in Africa occidentale, Milano, Unicopli, 2023.
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Readings and assignments for non-attending students:
Assignments for both 6 and 9 ECTS exams:
S. Allovio, L. Ciabarri, G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Antropologia culturale. I temi fondamentali. Nuova edizione, Milano, Raffaello Cortina, 2024.
G. Mangiameli, Le abitudini dell'acqua. Antropologia, ambiente e complessità in Africa occidentale, Milano, Unicopli, 2023.
E. Fabiano e G. Mangiameli (a cura di), Dialoghi con i non umani (Molimo n. 9), Milan, Mimesis, 2019 (introduction and five chapters chosen by students)
Additional assignments for 9 ECTS exam:
A book that will be specified soon
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam will be oral. Its purpose will be to test the knowledge of the volumes indicated in the reading list, with reference to the theoretical framework, the methods and the research topics of cultural anthropology.
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course;
ability to exemplify concepts;
adequacy of lexicon
Evaluation criteria:
- knowledge of the theoretical aspects of the topics discusses during the course;
ability to exemplify concepts;
adequacy of lexicon
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Friday 9-12. Contact me by email.
Department of Philosophy "Piero Martinetti", Icehouse Courtyard, first floor