An Introduction to Social Anthropology

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No prior knowledge is required.

Content of Course

This course begins by considering what anthropologists do, exploring the central concerns of the discipline and its distinctive ethnographic methodology (including fieldwork and participant observation). The remainder of the course examines themes such as personhood, ritual, gender, kinship, food, ethnicity, healing and witchcraft. Throughout the course, we will ask what it means to be human by examining comparative research on different cultures and societies. The wide range of topics discussed will allow you to reflect on the ways in which different areas of social life are deeply interconnected, developing a holistic view of society and culture.

The course includes a guided visit to the World Cultures Galleries at the National Museum of Scotland. The visit will take place during the day and last approximately two hours.

Teaching method(s)

Each session will combine lecture and tutorial discussion. You will be encouraged to critically engage with the course reading, from witchcraft to spirit dance, from kinship to nationalism, and to reflect on this literature through the lens of their own experience. Practical tasks and group discussions will enable you to refine your understanding of key concepts and put this understanding into practice. Feedback provided during class will enhance your ability to draw comparisons and contrasts between your own and other societies.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of key anthropological concepts and debates;

• Employ critical, analytical and reflective skills in understanding one’s own culture and that of other societies;

• Demonstrate an awareness of how an anthropological approach can be beneficial in developing an informed and critical understanding of the contemporary world;

• Critically assess ethnographic evidence;

• Convey ideas in a well-structured and coherent form.

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Eriksen, T. H., 2001. Small Places, Large Issues. London: Pluto Press.

Recommended:

• Boylston, T., 2018. The Stranger at the Feast: Prohibition and Mediation in an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Community. Berkeley: University of California Press.

• Carsten, J., 2004. After Kinship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Descola, P., 1996. The Spears of Twilight: Life and Death in the Amazon Jungle. London: Harper Collins.

• Evans-Pritchard, E. E., 1976. Witchcraft, Oracles and Magic Among the Azande. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

• Mauss, M., 1990 [1950]. The Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies. London: Routledge.

• Turner, V., 1970. Forest of Symbols. Cornell: Cornell University Press.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.