Teaching code

4S009136

Teacher

Anna Maria Paini

Coordinator

Anna Maria Paini

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Period

2 A, 2 B

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

Through various different teaching methods (lectures, discussions, meetings with experts, short films), the course aims to introduce students to a critical understanding of key concepts of the discipline in order to analyze through them how different contemporary situations are approached in the media, highlighting the peculiar sensitivity and the potentiality of an anthropological gaze. At the end of the course the student is expected to have a better understanding of the main categories used within anthropology; become acquainted with anthropological research practices; be capable of making use of the acquired tools to approach contemporary (inter)cultural processes; be capable of a critical approach regarding relevant issues in the public debate.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Students are encouraged to read Prima lezione di antropologia di Francesco Remotti (2000)

Program

Anthropological knowledge is a practical knowledge, action oriented, and constantly engaging with other world views and changes of the present. Starting from these premises, the course will be divided into two parts:
Part one: Concepts and methodological tools within Anthropology
The critical analysis of some objects of study of the discipline, such as culture, boundaries, belonging, differences, representation of alterity, practices and local knowledge as well as the methodological tools of the discipline (participant observation and ethnographic interviews).
Part two: Differences, cultural stereotypes, resources in relation to contemporary migrations.
Course Readings:
1) Miller, Barbara (2019), Cultural Anthropology, Pearson, 2nd edition.
2) Sorgoni, Barbara (2022) Antropologia delle migrazioni: l’età dei rifugiati, Carocci, Roma.
3) One of the two following books by Annamaria Rivera
(2014) La guerra dei simboli: veli postcoloniali e retoriche sull’alterità
(2020) Razzismo. Gli atti, le parole, la propaganda, Dedalo, Bari

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Various different teaching methods:
a) lectures
b) discussions
c) lab activities
d) meetings with experts

Learning assessment procedures

For those attending classes: class participation, in-class presentation and reports/papers. More specific details will be given at the beginning of the course.
For those not attending classes: final oral exam on the whole program. The student is asked questions about the course readings and about the main thematic issues they addressed. The student should bring with her/him the texts which s/he has studied.

Evaluation criteria

The oral test wants to verify:
- the breadth of knowledge gained;
- the use of a correct language;
- the ability to make connections and to discuss them.
Erasmus and international students may study the 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.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The final evaluation is based on 30/30.
For those choosing to write the final paper: paper (max 26/30) + oral discussion (max 4/30)

Exam language

Italiano