Through various different teaching methods (lectures, discussions, meetings with experts, films), the course aims to introduce students to a critical understanding of key concepts of the discipline and to some open issues within the contemporary ethnographic and theoretical contexts, with particular reference to the theme of cultural heritage, and highlighting the peculiar sensitivity and the potential of an the anthropological approach.

The course is divided in two parts:

Part One (24h):
a) students are critically introduced to some of the central concepts of the discipline such as culture, identity, borders, tradition, memory, heritage;
b) research methods will also be addressed (mainly participant observation and the ethnographic interview).

Course Readings:
1) Dei, F., 2016, Antropologia culturale, il Mulino, Bologna (2nd edition) Until February 2021.
New Introductory textbook (From February 2021)

2) Turgeon, L., 2007, "La memoria delle cultura materiale e la cultura materiale della memoria", in S. Bernardi, F.Dei, P.Meloni, a cura, La materia del quotidiano. Per un'antropologia degli oggetti ordinari, Pacini editore, Pisa, pp. 103-124.

For those attending classes : class participation, in-class presentation, mid term assessment and final paper .

For those NOT attending classes: Final oral exam. The student is asked questions about the course readings and about the thematic aspects dealt with. The student should bring with her/him the texts which s/he has studied. The final evaluation is based on 30/30.

The oral test seeks to verify:
- the breadth of knowledge gained;
- the use of a correct language;
- the ability to make connections.

Erasmus and international students may study alternative texts and take the final exam in English or French. If interested, they need to discuss the choice of the new reading materials with me during Office hours.