? Credit Points : 20  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : SPS-3-SACET

The course discusses how goods are produced, circulated and consumed, and how these three fundamental processes of social life and reproduction are mediated by technology. Classically, economic anthropologists focused on how such activities were organised in small-scale societies or in colonial territories; often production and exchange, with their associated technologies, were highlighted while consumption received less attention. Today the impact of globalisation, the rise of the digital society, and the overflowing material abundance that characterises life in the advanced economies and aspirations elsewhere, have led many social theorists to focus on consumption and communication as the key factors determining how people experience power, identity, connections and conflicts. We study a range of case studies and theoretical essays, evaluating the strengths, weaknesses and applicability of different approaches.

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Home subject area

Social Anthropology, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 50 minutes per week for 9 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 08/01/2008 11:10 13:00 Room G10, Adam Ferguson Building Central

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Tuesday 11:10 13:00 Central

to be announced

One two hour exam (80%) + assessed coursework (20%)

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST May 1 - 2 hour(s)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Mrs Moira Young
Tel : (0131 6)50 3933
Email : Moira.Young@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Prof Francesca Bray
Tel : (0131 6)51 3863
Email : francesca.bray@ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/