Last modified: 05 Aug 2021 13:04
Anthropology and art have much to offer each other. Taking historical and contemporary perspectives, students in this course will debate the cultural significance of art and the nature of creativity. We will focus particularly on questions of place, landscape and materials through a combined art-anthropology approach. The course will use the University of Aberdeen’s own art and ethnographic collections, and we will also work with Peacock Visual Arts in Aberdeen.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Anthropologists have used works of art from around the world as an index of culture, to study symbolic meaning, rituals and concepts of agency. Anthropology today by contrast often carries out research with art, rather than on it, using collaborative practice to explore issues of shared concern amongst anthropologists and artists. The category of ‘art’ itself is being questioned in new and interesting ways.
Using a combined art-anthropology approach, this course will focus particularly on questions of place, landscape and materials. Examples from socially-engaged art and environmental art will help us find new ways to think about people and the places they live. Cases from the course co-ordinator’s own research will be presented and the course will have an ethnographic focus on Scotland and its landscape – while also using international comparisons. A partnership with Peacock Visual Arts in Aberdeen will enable students to develop an anthropological perspective on contemporary art and the life of an active arts organisation. We will also use the extensive artistic and ethnographic collections of the University of Aberdeen.
Teaching will involve a series of two-hour seminars in which theoretical and case study materials will be explored.
Students taking this course will be able to:
- Describe and understand the history of anthropology’s relationship with art
- Evaluate contemporary examples of combined anthropology-art approaches to research
- Analyse the themes of place, landscape and materials in relation to Scotland and other international cases
- Develop and carry out independent project work on a topic relevant to anthropology and art
Assessment will be 100% coursework, with two pieces to be submitted. Firstly, students will select an essay question (50%, 3000 words). Secondly, with the help of the course co-ordinator, students will develop a project on a theme relevant to anthropology and art (50%, 3000 words). In the project, students’ own creative work will be welcomed but is not obligatory.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
5x200-word discussion post 15%
Essay (2000-words) 35%
Project (3000-words) 50%
Alternative Resit Arrangements
If required the resit would be re-submission of discussion board posts, project and essay.
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Describe and understand the history of anthropology’s relationship with art |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Evaluate contemporary examples of combined anthropology-art approaches to research |
| Procedural | Analyse | Analyse the themes of place, landscape and materials in relation to Scotland and other international cases |
| Reflection | Create | Develop and carry out independent project work on a topic relevant to anthropology and art |
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