AANK12039U Changing subjectivities in Asia, specialized course

Volume 2013/2014
Content

Over the past decades we have heard popular media stories about “indolent Asians” or “effeminate [male] Asians”; about the dangers of Asian population growth  and of Asian economic growth; about low-wage, high-tech and “just-in-time” production facilities; about “Asian values” as communitarian drivers of economic growth in contrast with individualist concerns in the West; and about “tiger moms” and expectations of achievement. How do we make sense of such diverse and often contradictory views? These – Western, Eurocentric – views are predicated in assumptions that Asian “possess” certain subjectivities that set them fundamentally apart from Europeans. In this course students will explore how subjectivities in Asia may be different from European subjectivities but also how diverse subjectivities are in different regions in Asia, and indeed within these regions. Moreover, subjectivities are not set in stone, but are changing across generations but even within one lifetime; yet, in spite of contextual and subjective differences and changes, people are able to speak to each other as they inhabit one world. We will be looking at anthropology in Asia, as well as at Asian anthropologies as Asia and Asian anthropology is undergoing a process of rapid postcolonialization, industrialization and postindustrialization. Focus is on how  subjectivities are fashioned as a result of specific social relationships, political and economic transformations, technological innovations and how these are guided by notions of the body and by concerns with success, health, autonomy and belonging. The course has an explorative character as we will be looking at how these complex intersections form the basis of fruitful theorizations based on our individual theoretical approaches.

The course will address the themes above divided over four regional/subcontinental clusters (North & Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia) that are taught by teacher with direct and recent research experience in these regions.

Learning Outcome

In the exam, the student must with clear language and lucidly argumentation exhibit that the he/she is capable of:

• identifying an independent anthropological problem statement that situates the emergence or change of particular subjectivities in specific Asian contexts

• demonstrating factual knowledge of a selected ethnographic field and/or empirical considerations relevant to Asia

• demonstrating insight into the theoretical concept of subjectivity and related concepts

• conducting an analysis based on central concepts, themes and empirical situations relevant to the course.

In addition to these general aims, specific aims may be set by the course teacher.

500 pages obligatory literature + 200 pages of literature chosen by students.

Course literature will be available in Absalon on the course website.

This course is a specialized course for MSc-students enrolled at the Dept. of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen.
Erasmus/exchange students who have a bachelor degree in Anthropology may also apply. Documentation is required.
The course has a seminar format, with 15-25 participants. Active participation is required, and students are encouraged to connect the course contents with their own master projects. Students will be required to make small assignments throughout the course and make a number of presentations. Students will receive instructions for and feedback on their assignments and presentations.
Kurset er aflyst i foråret 2014
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Course Preparation
  • 142
  • Exam
  • 36
  • Lectures
  • 14
  • Seminar
  • 14
  • Study Groups
  • 4
  • Total
  • 210
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the
assessment will be based.

The examination must address a relevant topic from the course and must include literature from the course syllabus.
The essay/portfolio assignments can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 people. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the curriculum 4.3.1. The oral exam can only be done on an individual basis.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Re-exam
1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See description of aims.
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Obligatory portfolio assignments: The course lecturer determines the number and length of portfolio assignments. A minimum of 75% thereof will be assessed as the exam. At the end of the course, the lecturer will announce upon which portfolio assignments the
assessment will be based.

The examination must address a relevant topic from the course and must include literature from the course syllabus.
The essay/portfolio assignments can be written individually or in groups of max. 4 people. Read more about the rules for group examinations in the curriculum 4.3.1. The oral exam can only be done on an individual basis.
Exam registration requirements
The student must participate actively in class, through for example class presentations, in order to be eligible to take the course exam. The course lecturer stipulates the specific requirements for active class participation.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
There is appointed a second internal assessor to assist with the assessment when the first assessor finds this necessary.
Re-exam
1. & 2. Re-exam
For written exams:
A new essay/portfolio with a revised problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
For oral exams:
A revised synopsis with a new problem statement is submitted at the announced date. The students must hereafter participate in a new oral exam at the announced date. The student must register for the re-exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See description of aims.