
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology
Code: 101576Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| East Asian Studies | FB | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Irene Masdeu Torruella
- Email :
- irene.masdeu@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Blai Guarné Cabello
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Students must be able to read and understand academic texts in English.
Objectives
Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology is devoted to the study of cultural diversity, intercultural relations, and the issue of ethnocentrism, as well as to the examination of various aspects related to communication between cultures, as a fundamental basis for respecting diversity and for building pluralistic and inclusive societies.
This is an essential and necessary course for approaching East Asian Studies, which focuses on understanding cultures and societies that differ from those familiar to most students.
The specific objectives include the theoretical analysis of the concepts of culture, institution, and social structure; the study of anthropological research methodologies and techniques; and the understanding of the mechanisms involved in the construction of social and cultural otherness. In addition, the course addresses issues related to migration and transnationalism; ethnicity and the processes of collective identity formation; Orientalism and cultural representations; as well as racism, discrimination, and processes of social exclusion, among other topics.
Learning outcomes
- CM08 (Implement the sustainable, professional and critical use of ICT for the efficient consultation and compilation of sources of sociology and anthropology.) Implement the sustainable, professional and critical use of ICT for the efficient consultation and compilation of sources of sociology and anthropology.
- CM09 (Manage intercultural mediation by recognising and overcoming the problems of ethnocentrism in intercultural and interdisciplinary contexts.) Manage intercultural mediation by recognising and overcoming the problems of ethnocentrism in intercultural and interdisciplinary contexts.
- KM13 (Identify the structures, agents, institutions, and agencies that shape social processes in relation to East Asia.) Identify the structures, agents, institutions, and agencies that shape social processes in relation to East Asia.
- SM11 (Develop a critical interpretation of social issues, environments, and phenomena, as well as cultural processes and dynamics related to the region.) Develop a critical interpretation of social issues, environments, and phenomena, as well as cultural processes and dynamics related to the region.
- SM13 (Apply key concepts as well as theoretical frameworks from the fields of sociology and anthropology in analyses of the region.) Apply key concepts as well as theoretical frameworks from the fields of sociology and anthropology in analyses of the region.
Contents
- Introduction. Cultural diversity and the emergence of academic anthropology
- Society, institutions and the individual. The notion of social structure
- Cultural diversity, history and community : Cultural relativism
- Difference and inequality. The social construction of collective identities
- Hybridity and migrations. Contemporary practices of cultural decolonization
- Methods and qualitative research technics
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 50 | 2 | KM13, SM11, SM13 |
| Group project | 18 | 0.72 | CM08, KM13, SM11, SM13 |
| Reading and written essay | 73 | 2.92 | CM08, KM13, SM11, SM13 |
To achieve the established objectives, this subject involves both lectures and practical classes. The lecturer will inform students of the characteristics of assessment activities on the first day of class. The work students carry out mainly consists of lectures, individual/group presentations in class, debates and discussions in class based on selected readings, watching documentaries, documentation searches, reading assignments, written assignments, and a series of exams. Students must keep abreast of the news and information published on the Virtual Campus / Moodle.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second part exam | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | CM09, KM13, SM11, SM13 |
| First part exam | 40% | 2 | 0.08 | CM09, KM13, SM11, SM13 |
| Group project | 20% | 5 | 0.2 | CM08, CM09, KM13, SM11, SM13 |
Continuous assessment
Assessment is continuous. Students must provide evidence of their progress by completing various tasks and tests. Tasks and tests deadlines will be indicated in the course schedule on the first day of class. The information on assessment activities and their weighting is a guide. The subject's lecturer will provide full information when teaching begins.
Review
When publishing final marks prior to recording them on students' transcripts, the lecturer will provide written notification of a date and time for reviewing assessment activities. Students must arrange reviews in agreement with the lecturer.
Missed/failed assessment activities
Students may retake assessment activities they have failed or compensate for any they have missed, provided that those they have actually performed account for a minimum of 66.6% (two thirds) of the subject's final mark and that they have a weighted average mark of at least 3.5.
The lecturer will inform students of the procedure involved, in writing, when publishing final marks prior to recording them on transcripts. The lecturer may set one assignment per failed or missed assessment activity or a single assignment to cover a number of such activities. Under no circumstances may an assessment activity worth 100% of the final mark be retaken or compensated for.
In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies may or may not be permitted depending on the activity. The permitted and prohibited uses in each case will be detailed in the course introduction. Students must clearly identify which parts were generated using AI technologies, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final result of the activity. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in graded assignments will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty on the assignment grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.
Classification as \"not assessable\"
In the event of the assessment activities a student has performed accounting for just 25% or less of the subject's final mark, their work will be classified as \"not assessable\" on their transcript.
Misconductin assessment activities
Any irregularity committed during an assessment (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant change in the grade will result in a grade of 0 for that assessment. If multiple irregularities occur during assessments for the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0. Furthermore, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any individual who commits any of these irregularities.
Single assessment
This subject may be assessed under the single assessment system in accordance with the terms established in the academic regulations of the UAB and the assessment criteria of the Faculty of Translation and Interpreting.
Students must make an online request within the period established by the faculty and send a copy to the teacher responsible for the subject, for the record.
Single assessment will be carried out in person on one day during week 16 or 17 of the semester. The Academic Management Office will publish the exact date and time on the faculty website.
On the day of the single assessment, teaching staff will ask the student for identification, which should be presented as a valid identification document with a recent photograph (student card, DNI/NIE or passport).
Single assessment activities
The final grade for the subject will be calculated according to the following percentages:
Exam of all the theoretical content (45%)
Written essay (individual) (30%)
Oral presentation of the essay (25%)
Grade revision and resit procedures for the subject are the same as those for continual assessment. See the section above in this study guide.
Bibliography
Benedict, Ruth (2006) El crisantemo y la espada: patrones de la cultura japonesa. Madrid, Alianza.
Boas, Franz (1996) Els mètodes de l'etnologia, Barcelona, Icaria.
Leach, Edmund (1967) “Nosotros y los demás”, Un mundo en explosión. Editorial Anagrama, Barcelona.
Malinowski, Bronislav (2001) Los argonautas del Pacífico Occidental. Barcelona, Península.
Said, Edward ([1978]2007) Orientalismo, Barcelona, Debolsillo
Paulus, Trena M, Lester, Jessica N., & Dempster, Paul G. (2014). Digital Tools for Qualitative Research. London: Sage.
Salazar, Noel B (2011) “The Power of Imagination in Transnational Mobilities Identities”, Global Studies in Culture and Power, 18:576–598
Software
We will not use specific sotfware
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | first semester | morning-mixed |