Learning outcomes

To provide a basic knowledge of epistemological and hermeneutic reflection on ethnographic research in anthropology, applying them to educational, scholastic and extra-scholastic contexts. To introduce the student to field research through a guided ethnographical experience.

Program

The basic principles of ethnographic methodology in anthropological terms in an educational environment will be presented. Particular emphasis will be placed on the study of the construction of "normality" in scholastic settings, including an in-depth study of the history of educational anthropology. The difference between ethnography "in" school and ethnography "of" school will be analysed. Students will be asked to carry out ethnographic surveys in school environments, which will be prepared, guided and discussed during the course.

Examination texts:
1) F. Cappelletto (a cura di), Vivere l’etnografia, SEID, Firenze, 2009.
2) R. Bonetti (a cura di), La trappola della normalità. Antropologia ed etnografia nei mondi della scuola, SEID, Firenze, 2014.
3) A. Simonicca (a cura di), Antropologia dei mondi della scuola, CISU, Roma, 2011.

Note
Students on the Master Degree Course in Philosophical Science who have decided to sit the exam for Cultural Anthropology teaching (6 credits), will take an oral examination on the above texts or, alternatively, may study the following books (this is particularly recommended for non-attending students):


S. Landucci, I filosofi e i selvaggi, Einaudi, Torino, 2014.
F. Barth et al., Storie dell’antropologia, SEID, Florence, 2010

Examination Methods

a) Non-attending students will take an oral examination on the above texts;
b) Attending students will be able to choose from:
b1) an oral examination on the above texts;
b2) the production of a written report on the scholastic ethnographic investigations dealt with in the lessons (strictly for attending students only).