AANB11043U Anthropologies of Interactions

Volume 2013/2014
Content

This course explores a range of different anthropological approaches to human interaction, communication and exchange. It seeks to avoid grand theoretical questions (regarding the nature of society, the multiplicity of worlds or the agency of objects) and focus instead on things human beings actually do – i.e. interact with one another. The course takes in a broad historical sweep, beginning with Gluckmann and the Manchester School, before moving on to interactionist and performance based approaches (Barth, Goffman) and Anglo-Saxon pragmatism and and French (post-Bourdieusian) neo-pragmatism. The course aims to provide master’s students with an alternative toolset for the analysis of their material. 

Learning Outcome

By the end of the course, students are expected to have an awareness of the historical development of pragmatic approaches within anthropology, to be able to reflect critically on differences between these approaches and to demonstrate an ability to apply these approaches to their own material. 


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 relevant to the course's subject matter 
  • demonstrating factual knowledge of a selected ethnographic field and/or empirical considerations relevant to the course’s subject matter 
  • demonstrating insight into selected central theoretical concepts relevant to the chosen subject area and course material 
  • conducting an analysis based on central concepts or themes presented during the course.

Students must also fulfil the Department of Anthropology's form and language requirements (see the curriculum 4.3.2 for more about form and language requirements).

A mixture of seminars and class teaching
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 18
  • Lectures
  • 4,7
  • Preparation
  • 160
  • Seminar
  • 23,3
  • Study Groups
  • 4
  • Total
  • 210,0
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 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.
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.
Aid
All aids allowed
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 learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students

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 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.
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.
Aid
All aids allowed
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 learning outcome. Formalities for Written Works must be fulfilled, read more: MSc Students/ BA students (in Danish)/ exchange, credit and Open University students