Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05
This course draws on the University’s Museums and Special Collections to explore practical methods used in anthropological approaches to the past. Students will investigate the ethnographic potential of oral histories, museum objects, photographs, and archival documents. We will examine how these methods can be used to tell diverse stories about colonialism, collecting, and histories of science, and address contemporary concerns such as collaborative research and repatriation. Students will write a historical ethnography drawing on methods and materials of their choice.
| 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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What makes historical anthropology anthropological? Although often associated with contemporary fieldwork, anthropological methods can also offer an insight into the past and the way in which it intersects with present concerns. This course is divided into three parts which explore ethnographic approaches to the past through lectures and seminar discussions.
Beginning with contextualising theoretical discussions, this course goes on to explore anthropological approaches to the past through the lens of diverse historical sources: oral histories, museum objects, photographs, and archives. Drawing on these methodological considerations, the course explores ethnographic approaches to a variety of influential and contested histories: histories of empire, collecting, science, and institutions. These histories span the late eighteenth to the early twenty-first centuries and cover diverse geographic regions from Aotearoa New Zealand and Indonesia to Aberdeen and Dumfries and Galloway. These histories are considered in light of the effects historical anthropology might have on contemporary concerns, including discussions of collaboration and repatriation in the context of museum and archival collections.
Assessment will be 100% coursework and will include an independent research project where students are encouraged to draw on methodological skills to write a historical ethnography using historical sources of their choice.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 10,12,14 | Feedback Weeks | 12,14,16 | |
| Feedback |
Word count- 1500 (3 x 500) Feedback - |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate the potential for historical anthropological research to impact contemporary anthropological and political concerns. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students will be able to understand the relationship between anthropology and history and describe historical anthropology as a distinct theoretical and methodological approach. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students will be able to recognise, evaluate, and implement a variety of methodological strategies for conducting historical ethnographic research e.g. object-based research, archival research. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 20 | Feedback Weeks | 24 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate the potential for historical anthropological research to impact contemporary anthropological and political concerns. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Students will be able to understand the relationship between anthropology and history and describe historical anthropology as a distinct theoretical and methodological approach. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students will be able to recognise, evaluate, and implement a variety of methodological strategies for conducting historical ethnographic research e.g. object-based research, archival research. |
| Reflection | Create | Students will be able to propose, design, and produce an independent project based on historical ethnographic research methods. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 16 | Feedback Weeks | 19 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Students will be able to understand the relationship between anthropology and history and describe historical anthropology as a distinct theoretical and methodological approach. |
| Reflection | Create | Students will be able to propose, design, and produce an independent project based on historical ethnographic research methods. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Separate resit for each of the failed components i.e., Each of these could act as a direct resit for the failed element. Feedback will be provided within three weeks of submission. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Students will be able to understand the relationship between anthropology and history and describe historical anthropology as a distinct theoretical and methodological approach. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students will be able to recognise, evaluate, and implement a variety of methodological strategies for conducting historical ethnographic research e.g. object-based research, archival research. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students will be able to analyse and critically evaluate the potential for historical anthropological research to impact contemporary anthropological and political concerns. |
| Reflection | Create | Students will be able to propose, design, and produce an independent project based on historical ethnographic research methods. |
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