Cultural Anthropology
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide: - knowledge of the main epistemological paradigm of cultural anthropology: - knowledge of the ethnographic method and its transformations during the twentieth century; - knowledge of key terms of anthropology (culture, cultural relativism, gift, ritual, identity, habitus, agency) and ability to apply them for the analysis of events in the contemporary world; - reflective, critical skills, aptitude for dialogue and participation; -knowledge and skills on the fundamental themes of medical anthropology: ability to understand and critically analyze the cultural construction of the concepts of health and disease through the examination of different ethnographic cases.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should possess: - In-Depth Knowledge of the concept of culture and ethnography; - knowledge of the major anthropological theories and ability to use them to interpret and to analyse daily life - Critical thinking skills needed to compare different cultural contexts; - Ability to apply anthropological Knowledge and understanding in relation to the construction of research desig - Awareness of the responsibility in applied anthropology - Ability to discuss embodied experiences and to question the natural character of the body and illness, linking them to social, political, and economic processes
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
In the first module we study the fundamental moments in the history of anthropological thought as knowledge of difference (which aims to think, understand and describe cultural otherness) and as critical knowledge (whose purpose is the deconstruction of our common sense).
We therefore face the main epistemological paradigms, from evolutionism to contemporary anthropology, focusing on the main concepts and themes of anthropological knowledge (culture, cultural relativism, , participant observation, gift, ritual, identity, habitus, agency).
A space will be given to reading and commenting on exemplary passages in the history of anthropological thought.
The second module aims to introduce students to medical anthropology, one of the most important specializations of cultural anthropology. We will address the main authors and historical developments of the discipline, as well as its ethics, methodology, and objects of investigation. We will explore the notions of body, disease, and medicine as sociocultural products that vary across time and space, and we will strive to understand how different conceptualizations of these notions affect the experiences of social actors.
By the end of the module, students are expected to acquire a specialized lexicon to discuss embodied experiences and to question the natural character of the body and illness, linking them to social, political, and economic processes. Each theme will be explored in close connection with the relevant ethnographic literature.
We therefore face the main epistemological paradigms, from evolutionism to contemporary anthropology, focusing on the main concepts and themes of anthropological knowledge (culture, cultural relativism, , participant observation, gift, ritual, identity, habitus, agency).
A space will be given to reading and commenting on exemplary passages in the history of anthropological thought.
The second module aims to introduce students to medical anthropology, one of the most important specializations of cultural anthropology. We will address the main authors and historical developments of the discipline, as well as its ethics, methodology, and objects of investigation. We will explore the notions of body, disease, and medicine as sociocultural products that vary across time and space, and we will strive to understand how different conceptualizations of these notions affect the experiences of social actors.
By the end of the module, students are expected to acquire a specialized lexicon to discuss embodied experiences and to question the natural character of the body and illness, linking them to social, political, and economic processes. Each theme will be explored in close connection with the relevant ethnographic literature.
Prerequisites for admission
The course requires the knowledge of twentieth century history and history of philosophy.
Teaching methods
The teaching of the course offers lectures, practical exercises, case studies, guest lectures, video projection.
Slides, educational material, references will be available at the end of each lesson on the course website
Slides, educational material, references will be available at the end of each lesson on the course website
Teaching Resources
Attending and not-attending Students:
- Fabietti, Ugo, Storia dell'antropologia, quarta edizione, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2020 (capitoli 2,3,4,6,8,9,11,13,14,15,17,18,20 e relative letture)
- Pizza, G. (2005). Antropologia Medica. Saperi pratiche e politiche del corpo, Carocci. Capitoli 1, 2, 4, 6.
- Una monografia a scelta tra:
1. Castellano, V. (2018). Revolving door. I servizi per i minori e la riproduzione delle disuguaglianze a New York, edizioni Junior.
2. Cola, M. (2012). Ragionevolmente differenti. Una riflessione antropologica su Sindrome di Asperger e Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico, I libri di Emil.
3. Cozzi, D. (2007). Le imperfezioni del silenzio. Riflessioni antropologiche sulla depressione femminile in un'area alpina, Bonanno Editore.
4. Fusaschi, M. (2003). I segni sul corpo: per un'antropologia delle modificazioni dei genitali femminili, Bollati Boringhieri.
5. Gribaldo, A. (2005). La natura scomposta. Riproduzione assistita, genere, parentela, Luca Sossella Editore.
6. Mattalucci, C. (2017). Antropologia e riproduzione. Attese, fratture e ricomposizioni della procreazione e della genitorialità in Italia, Cortina.
7. Mazzeo, A. (2020). Dust inside: Fighting and living with asbestos-related disasters in Brazil, Berghahn Books.
8. Minelli, M. (2011). Santi, demoni, giocatori. Un'etnografia delle pratiche di salute mentale, Argo.
9. Pussetti, C. (2005). Poetica delle emozioni: i Bijagó della Guinea Bissau, Laterza.
10. Quagliariello, C. (2021). L'isola dove non si nasce. Lampedusa tra esperienze procreative, genere e migrazioni, Unicopli.
11. Quaranta, I. (2006). Corpo, potere e malattia. Antropologia e AIDS nei Grassfields del Camerun, Meltemi Editore.
12. Quarta, L. (2019). Resti tra noi: etnografia di un manicomio criminale, Mimesis.
13. Raffaetà, R. (2011). Identità compromesse. Malattia e cultura: il caso dell'allergia, Ledizioni.
14. Raffaetà, R. (2020). Antropologia dei microbi. Come la metagenomica sta riconfigurando l'umano e la salute, CISU.
15. Ravenda, A. F. (2018). Carbone. Inquinamento industriale, salute e politica a Brindisi, Meltemi.
16. Schirripa, P. (2015). La vita sociale dei farmaci. Produzione, circolazione, consumo degli oggetti materiali della cura, Argo.
17. Tassan, M. (2017). Amazzonia incantata. Luoghi, corpi e malattie in una comunità afro-discendente del Brasile, Cisu.
- Fabietti, Ugo, Storia dell'antropologia, quarta edizione, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2020 (capitoli 2,3,4,6,8,9,11,13,14,15,17,18,20 e relative letture)
- Pizza, G. (2005). Antropologia Medica. Saperi pratiche e politiche del corpo, Carocci. Capitoli 1, 2, 4, 6.
- Una monografia a scelta tra:
1. Castellano, V. (2018). Revolving door. I servizi per i minori e la riproduzione delle disuguaglianze a New York, edizioni Junior.
2. Cola, M. (2012). Ragionevolmente differenti. Una riflessione antropologica su Sindrome di Asperger e Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico, I libri di Emil.
3. Cozzi, D. (2007). Le imperfezioni del silenzio. Riflessioni antropologiche sulla depressione femminile in un'area alpina, Bonanno Editore.
4. Fusaschi, M. (2003). I segni sul corpo: per un'antropologia delle modificazioni dei genitali femminili, Bollati Boringhieri.
5. Gribaldo, A. (2005). La natura scomposta. Riproduzione assistita, genere, parentela, Luca Sossella Editore.
6. Mattalucci, C. (2017). Antropologia e riproduzione. Attese, fratture e ricomposizioni della procreazione e della genitorialità in Italia, Cortina.
7. Mazzeo, A. (2020). Dust inside: Fighting and living with asbestos-related disasters in Brazil, Berghahn Books.
8. Minelli, M. (2011). Santi, demoni, giocatori. Un'etnografia delle pratiche di salute mentale, Argo.
9. Pussetti, C. (2005). Poetica delle emozioni: i Bijagó della Guinea Bissau, Laterza.
10. Quagliariello, C. (2021). L'isola dove non si nasce. Lampedusa tra esperienze procreative, genere e migrazioni, Unicopli.
11. Quaranta, I. (2006). Corpo, potere e malattia. Antropologia e AIDS nei Grassfields del Camerun, Meltemi Editore.
12. Quarta, L. (2019). Resti tra noi: etnografia di un manicomio criminale, Mimesis.
13. Raffaetà, R. (2011). Identità compromesse. Malattia e cultura: il caso dell'allergia, Ledizioni.
14. Raffaetà, R. (2020). Antropologia dei microbi. Come la metagenomica sta riconfigurando l'umano e la salute, CISU.
15. Ravenda, A. F. (2018). Carbone. Inquinamento industriale, salute e politica a Brindisi, Meltemi.
16. Schirripa, P. (2015). La vita sociale dei farmaci. Produzione, circolazione, consumo degli oggetti materiali della cura, Argo.
17. Tassan, M. (2017). Amazzonia incantata. Luoghi, corpi e malattie in una comunità afro-discendente del Brasile, Cisu.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam is an oral exam where students will discuss topics covered during the course.
M-DEA/01 - DEMOLOGY, ETHNOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professor:
Biscaldi Angela
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Biscaldi AngelaProfessor(s)