Undergraduate Course: Kinship: Structure and Process (SCAN10021)
Course Outline
School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
Home subject area |
Social Anthropology |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None |
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Course description |
The first part of the course contrasts the 'descent theory' and 'alliance theory' paradigms which dominated anthropological approaches to kinship from the 1940s until the 1970s. This split is shown to exemplify broader differences in theoretical approach towards the study of anthropology more generally. The second part of the course examines some of the ways in which people in different societies conceptualise and live out relatedness. It shows how notions about relatedness are linked to concepts of the person, notions about gender, and theories of procreation which may be radically different from our own (which are themselves changing under the impact of New Reproductive Technologies). Kinship has long been regarded as the core of the anthropological discipline, although the extent to which this is still the case is questionable. The course traces the history of kinship studies, looking at some central debates in the subject and assessing their implications for anthropological theory. |
Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites |
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Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
None
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Additional Costs |
None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites |
Visiting students should have at least 3 Anthropology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
Prospectus website |
http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/courses |
Course Delivery Information
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Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Central | Lecture | Weekly lecture - Room 2.14, Appleton Tower | 1-11 | | | 11:10 - 13:00 | | |
First Class |
First class information not currently available |
Additional information |
50 minutes per week for 9 week(s). |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should have an overview of the ways in which anthropologists have approached kinship in both some classic non-Western cases, and more recently, in Western cultures. They will have an understanding of the economic and political salience of kinship, the history of kinship within anthropology, and of the significance of key debates about what kinship is, and how it might be studied. |
Assessment Information
One 2-hour exam (80%) + assessed coursework (20%) |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Maya Mayblin
Tel:
Email: mmayblin@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Katie Teague
Tel: (0131 6)50 4001
Email: katie.teague@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:39 am
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