Universität Wien
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240541 SE Social Anthropology and its History (P2) (2022S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!

The lecturer can invite students to a grade-relevant discussion about partial achievements. Partial achievements that are obtained by fraud or plagiarized result in the non-evaluation of the course (entry 'X' in certificate). The plagiarism software 'Turnitin' will be used for courses with continuous assessment.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 20 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

If possible, the course is to be conducted in presence. Due to the respective applicable distance regulations and other measures, adjustments may be made.

  • Tuesday 05.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 06.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Friday 08.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 25.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 26.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Wednesday 27.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 28.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Friday 29.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The aim of this course is to examine the modern discipline of social anthropology and its institutional formation, looking in particular at the years 1880-1950. The creation of social anthropology was, arguably, the most important development in anthropology in the twentieth century, all the more so as it has diffused subsequently from Great Britain to become embodied more broadly in Europe through the European Association of Social Anthropology. Yet, I would argue that its foundation has been frequently misunderstood. The emphasis on Malinowski as the creator of social anthropology has at once diminished the role played by those who became before (and after) him, simplified its institutional complexity, and also encouraged a tendency to be dismissive of earlier areas of anthropological thought. Understanding in finer detail the events that led to social anthropology’s emergence, enables us to correct this, and also to look at the costs, as well as the benefits of the modern discipline as it has taken shape today in Europe.
The course is taught through lecture, and seminar discussion. By its end, it is to be expected that participants have a good knowledge of the different figures studied, a nuanced view of the history of social anthropology and its intellectual breadth, and a grasp of the contemporary and past institutional structures of the discipline.

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance and active participation, essays.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The course is open to all students. Students must attend all of the scheduled classes, unless excused by the lecturer. They will be asked to notify in advance if they are unable to come to a class. The students’ performance will be evaluated on the basis of classroom participation and the quality and timeliness of the writing assignments. Participants have to show familiarity with the assigned readings that will be discussed in the class.
Each student will lead the discussion at least once during the semester. This will involve presenting the readings and posing a few questions to initiate the debate.
Written assignments (on topics selected after discussion with the instructor) will be twofold: an initial essay of 1500 words, and a final essay of 3000 words. The marks will be distributed as follows: 10% class participation, 30% for the initial essay; 60% for the final essay.

• 91-100 points - 1 (excellent)
• 81-90 points - 2 (good)
• 71-80 points - 3 (satisfactory)
• 61-70 points - 4 (sufficient)
In order to complete the course, one needs to obtain at least 61 points.

Examination topics

Topics of the written assignements should first be discussed with the lecturere. Familiarity with the literature is essential.

Reading list

In general terms, would-be attendees of the course are encouraged to make themselves familiar with the primary writings of the period. Amongst those authors who will specifically come up during the course are E. E Evans-Pritchard, J. J. Frazer, F. W Hasluck, M. Hasluck, B. Malinowski, R L Marett, J. L. Myers, E. Radcliffe-Brown, and E. Westermarck. Acquaintance with the philosophy of the social sciences such as the work of Kuhn, Popper, Ryan and Gellner would also be useful.
Preliminary secondary sources are:
Kuper, A. 2015 Anthropology and anthropologists the modern British school. London: Routledge.
Shankland, D. (ed) 2012 Archaeology and anthropology: past, present and future A.S.A. monographs; 48. London: Berg.
Shankland, D. 2019 “Social Anthropology and its History”, in Zeitschrift fuer Ethnologie, Volume 144: 51-76.
Urry, J. 2012 Before Social Anthropology: Essays on the History of British Anthropology, London: Routledge.
Vermeulen, Han F. 2015. Before Boas: the genesis of ethnography and ethnology in the German Enlightenment, Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 01.04.2022 12:09