Current Anthropological Theory

Timetable

TBC

Institute of Anthropology and Ethnology

Collegium Historicum Novum, MORASKO Campus

Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 7, Poznań

Please contact malgorzata.kowalska@amu.edu.pl for details.

Module aim (aims)

This course examines both the classic works of key shapers of the world anthropological traditions and the current discussion on the ethnographic theory. Its main aim is to introduce the students to the key theoretical problems addressed by anthropology; its most recent reactions to local and global socio-economic and political currents; and to the ongoing debates on the logic and the future of the discipline.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Students should have knowledge of the history of the discipline and its main topics of interest

Assessment criteria
Students will be expected to prepare to read key texts for each session and actively participate in class discussions and write an essay on one of the chosen topics.
A/5 EXCELLENT - outstanding performance
B/4+ VERY GOOD - above average with few minor mistakes and/or omissions
C/4 GOOD - generally sound work with some minor mistakes and/or omissions
D/3+ SATISFACTORY – fair, but with a number of serious mistakes and/or omissions
E/3 SUFFICIENT – fair, but with significant shortcomings
F/2 FAIL

Regarding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the preparation of final essays, I would encourage you not to use it, given its environmental impact and the fact that the class aims to develop students' analytical and critical thinking skills. However, if you do wish to use AI, please clearly indicate how you did so (e.g. which prompts you used and which parts were based on AI-conducted research). Currently, it is still quite obvious when students have used AI, so failing to indicate this in the final assignment will result in you not passing the class.

The general rules  for the use of AI at the university can be found here (in Polish only): https://amu.edu.pl/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/536372/ZR-426-2023-2024.pdf

 

Syllabus

Week 1	Introduction
Week 2	The savage slot - the missing slot?
Week 3-5	Being affected
Week 6-8	Fieldwork. Anthropology and ethnography
Week 9-11	Different world-making projects
Week 12-14	Accessible, engaged, ethical

Reading list

2. Trouillot, M-R. (1991) ‘Anthropology and the savage slot: The poetics and politics of otherness’ in Fox, R. (ed.)
Recapturing Anthropology Santa Fe, NM: School of American Research, 17-44.
3-5. Robbins, J. (2013) ‘Beyond the Suffering Subject: Toward an Anthropology of the Good’ in Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (N.S.) 19, 447-462; Rosaldo, R. (1993 [1989]) ‘Introduction: Grief and a Headhunter’s Rage’ in Culture and Truth: The Remaking of Social Analysis Boston: Beacon Press; London: Taylor & Francis; Favret-Saada, J. (2012) ‘Death at your heels. When ethnographic writing propagates the force of witchcraft’ & ‘Being affected’ in HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 2 (1), 45–53 & 435-45.
6-8. Ingold, T (2014) ‘That’s enough about ethnography’ in HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 4 (1): 383–395; Ingold, T. (2017) ‘Anthropology contra ethnography’ in HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 7 (1): 21–26 Miller, D. (2017) ‘Anthropology is the discipline but the goal is ethnography’ in HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 7 (1): 27–31.
9-11. Kohn, E. (2007) ‘How dogs dream: Amazonian natures and the politics of transspecies Engagement’ in American Ethnologist, Vol. 34, No. 1, 3–24; Ingold, T. (2013) Anthropology Beyond Humanity, Edward Westermarck Memorial Lecture, Suomen Antropologi: Journal of the Finnish Anthropological Society 38 (3), 5-23; Tsing, Anna Lowenhaupt (2004) Friction. An Ethnography of Global Connections. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press; *Rose, D.B. (2017) Shimmer: When All You Love is Being Trashed. in A. Tsing, H. A. Swanson, E. Gan, N. Bubandt (eds.) Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet. Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, G51-G63.
12-14. Scheper-Hughes, N. (1995) ‘The Primacy of the Ethical: Propositions for a Militant Anthropology’ Current Anthropology 36, no. 3: 409-440; Fortun, K (2012) ‘Ethnography in Late Industrialism’ in Cultural Anthropology, vol. 27, nr 3, 446–464; *Chakrabarty, D. (2017) ‘The Politics of the Climate Change is More Important than the Politics
of Capitalism’ in: Theory, Culture & Society Vol. 34 (2–3) 25–3.