Last modified: 20 Jun 2025 15:13
This course explores theoretical issues and key debates in contemporary anthropology. We begin with the questioning of the central concepts of culture and society in anthropology during the 1980s. Following this, we ask: how can anthropology proceed if the targets of its investigation can no longer be understood as objective entities? How can anthropology proceed if the anthropologist themselves is inevitably implicated in and part of those very targets? To look for possible answers, the course examines current anthropological interest in power and history, political economy and phenomenology, experience, embodiment and practice, ontology and things that speak.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course explores the main critical debates in contemporary anthropology in the context of their development within the history of the field. We will critically examine the foundation of the discipline and its unique approach to modelling time, the definition of the person, and materiality. We will further explore contemporary debates surrounding multi-natures, political ecology and the authoritative voice. The course will anchor contemporary challenges, such as the ecological crisis in long-term theoretical themes. The course will provide an overview of evolutionist, functionalist, Marxist, structuralist, and practice anthropology – as well as explore the “anthropology of the good” and “ethical projects”.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-word Reflective Reading Journal Statement 2 (worth 25% of overall grade). |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate understanding of major theoretical approaches in contemporary anthropology. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on how engaging with different theoretical approaches helps the student to think about and understand a chosen issue or theme. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3,000-word final essay (worth 50% of overall grade). |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Produce coherent and reasoned arguments in written work, class discussions, and oral presentations on a chosen project theme. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | In relation to a particular issue or problem, compare and evaluate how different conceptual and theoretical approaches can provide insight. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,500-word Reflective Reading Journal Statement 1 (worth 25% of overall grade). |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate understanding of major theoretical approaches in contemporary anthropology. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on how engaging with different theoretical approaches helps the student to think about and understand a chosen issue or theme. |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
500-word Annotated Bibliography and Proposal. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Understand | Identify a current issue or problem and identify appropriate anthropological theoretical approaches for analysing it. |
| Assessment Type | Formative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
1,000-1,500-word Essay Draft. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Produce coherent and reasoned arguments in written work, class discussions, and oral presentations on a chosen project theme. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | In relation to a particular issue or problem, compare and evaluate how different conceptual and theoretical approaches can provide insight. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
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||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate understanding of major theoretical approaches in contemporary anthropology. |
| Procedural | Understand | Identify a current issue or problem and identify appropriate anthropological theoretical approaches for analysing it. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | In relation to a particular issue or problem, compare and evaluate how different conceptual and theoretical approaches can provide insight. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Produce coherent and reasoned arguments in written work, class discussions, and oral presentations on a chosen project theme. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Reflect on how engaging with different theoretical approaches helps the student to think about and understand a chosen issue or theme. |
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