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Population Studies, Ethnography and Anthropology
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course "Cultural Anthropology" pursues the general educational objectives of the Degree Course and is aimed at providing a historical framework of the social sciences and a solid preparation in the field of professionalization (mediation in the social-health and school fields, but also cultural translation, etc.).
OBJECTIVES AND OUTPUTS - “Cultural Anthropology” aims to offer students: 1) basic knowledge of anthropological disciplines on the main fields of investigation and the fundamental concepts of the discipline; 2) basic knowledge of the methods used and the change in paradigms and tools over time; 3) knowledge of the history and changes of the different schools and perspectives within the discipline.
KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICAL SKILLS - Students will be able to apply the fundamental principles of the anthropological approach to reflect critically and in relativistic terms on their own culture, developing the ability to listen, understand and respect for cultural differences and/or divisions.
OTHER OUTPUTS - More specifically, the teacher intends to develop 1) autonomy of judgment (students will be able to develop autonomous judgments in understanding cultural, gender, class, religious diversity and plurality, etc.; and their own critical position with respect to phenomena such as racism, sexism, migration and social marginalization); 2) communication skills, through the analysis of key words such as "identity", "culture", "ethnicity", "race", "gender", etc.
Course Prerequisites
No particular requirements are required. It is recommended to study the exam with a globe next to the Manual; and to reinforce, where lacking, the basic knowledge of history and geography.
Teaching Methods
Classes will be held through lectures integrated with video-ethnographic and photographic material and is divided into two parts. In the first part, the theoretical and methodological foundations of the discipline will be offered to students, from its origins to contemporary developments. In the second part of the course, two specific themes will be explored (“migrations”, “racism and racialization of society”). The last half hour of each lesson will be dedicated to collecting questions, requests for clarifications, interventions and collegial discussions. No laboratory activities or exercises are planned.
A face-to-face teaching method is foreseen. Those who cannot attend in person will be able to take the exam as non-attending students.
Teaching will be held in Italian. The teacher guarantees a good understanding of English and French and a basic understanding of Spanish and Portuguese, so questions and reflections may also be reported in other European languages by the participants, to encourage dialogue and understanding of the topics addressed if Erasmus and/or international students are present.
Assessment Methods
The introductory nature of the course allows the acquisition of the fundamental conceptual tools of cultural anthropology, as well as basic knowledge relating to the main concepts, theories and methods of cultural anthropology. At the end of the course, students must be able to understand: 1) the fundamental notions of the discipline (identity, ethnicity, rite of passage, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, etc.); 2) have critical ability in reading some monographic texts made in class. Students will learn to use critical tools to analyze the different forms of racism and political instrumentalization of cultural differences in the contemporary national and international debate.
The expected test is written and consists of a test aimed at ascertaining the acquisition and appropriate use of a basic vocabulary of cultural anthropology, knowledge of the main thematic fields of the discipline and the main theoretical options; as well as critical ability in applying anthropological knowledge to the analysis of specific cases treated in class and explored in depth by the teacher.
The following criteria will be used to verify learning: the appropriateness and richness of the contents learned; clarity of exposition and the ability to use anthropological vocabulary; critical skills; the ability to memorize, analyze ethnographic cases and make connections and comparisons.
Texts
Mandatory for all students:
- U. Fabietti, (2023) Elementi di antropologia culturale, Terza o Quarta edizione, Mondadori, Milano.
For those who can not attend classes, add this one too:
- T. Ingold, (2020) Antropologia. Ripensare il mondo. Meltemi
Mandatory the choise of one book among these ones:
A) Migration studies:
- Sayad A. (2002), La doppia assenza. Dalle illussioni dell’emigrato alla sofferenza dell’immigrato, Raffaello Cortina, Milano.
- AM. Antropologia medica, numero monografico Vol. 17, 2015, reperibile in pdf qui: https://www.amantropologiamedica.unipg.it/index.php/am/issue/view/18/19 (il volume va interamente portato, si devono quindi studiare tutti gli articoli pubblicati).
B) Racicism and racialization process:
- J. Baldwin e M. Mead, Discussione sulla razza, Sciogliere i nodi su storia, culture e razzismi (2022, Meltemi, Milano)
- Wi'am Qudaih, Diario da Gaza (2025, Tamu, Napoli).
Contents
Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
TOPICS:
1. Definition and brief history of the discipline;
2. The lexicon of difference: “race”, culture, ethnicity;
3. Ethnocentrism, relativism, critical ethnocentrism;
4. Culture-nature;
5. Techniques of the body and the notion of person;
6. The ethnographic method and the theory of anthropological research.
Thematic insights:
A) migratory processes;
B) racism and racialization of society.
Course Language
Teaching will be held in Italian (I understand English, French, Spanish, Portuguese).
More information
For any information, please write here:
simona.taliani@unior.it
I receive students in my office, please send me an email for taking an appointment