OVERVIEW

The course aims to highlight the central role of Cultural  Anthropology, the most important concepts and the most commonly used  tools of this discipline. The course will examine the main theoretical  approaches of the history of anthropological studies, from  Evolutionism to Functionalism, from Structuralism to Intepretive  Anthropology.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to highlight the central role of Cultural  Anthropology, the most important concepts and the most used tools of  discipline. The course will examine the main theoretical approaches of the history of anthropological studies, from Evolutionism to  Functionalism, from Structuralism to Intepretive Anthropology.  The  course will analyse the approaches most used by anthropologists, from  Universalism to Relativism and also the core concepts of the  discipline: culture, identity, tradition, transcultural processes,  miscegenation, development, decrease. In particular, the lessons will  focus on the themes of migrations according to the anthropological  point of view in order to avoid the emerging forms of racism in our society.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to provide students  with cognitive and methodological tools in order to 
deepen the themes related to the meeting between cultures and cultural ibridation, with particular reference to the South America. The analysis of the universalistic and relativistic positions will lead to reflect about transcultural processes and other current issues in the age of global migrations. Another aim of the course is the assessment of cultural miscegenation as an ideal mediation between homogenisation and multicultural fragmentation. 

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons, with written or multimedial exercises on themes at students choice

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

What is  Anthropology?
Which is the role of Anthropologists today?
The main antropological currents in  history
Universalism and Relativism
Miscegenation vs Racism

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mandatory texts  
1) Ugo Fabietti, Stora dell'Antropologia, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2011
(eventualmente un altro manuale di Storia del pensiero antropologico)

2) Barba B., Dio negro, mondo meticcio, Seid, Firenze, 2013.
3) a choice of 1 text among the following:
- Collier P, Exodus. I tabù dell’immigrazione, Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2015.
-Sen A., Lo sviluppo è libertà, Mondadori
-Latouche S., La fine del mondo occidentale, Eléuthera, Milano
-Shalins M., Un grosso sbaglio, Eléuthera, Milano
-Burleigh M., La genesi del mondo contemporaneo, Feltrinelli
-Said, E., Orientalismo, Feltrinelli.
Altre indicazioni bibliografiche verranno fornite durante il corso.
Other recommended texts will be given during the course

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

SALVATORE BRUNO BARBA (President)

MAURO SPOTORNO (President)

STEFANIA MANGANO

ELEONORA PANIZZA

PIETRO PIANA

GIAN MARCO UGOLINI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Monday, 17 semptember

Class schedule

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam

ASSESSMENT METHODS

At the end of the course, students will be able to describe the main currents of anthropological taught; to analyse the functioning of dinamycs of cultural transmission and changement; to make original hypothesis about the future of cultural ibridation

Exam schedule