Undergraduate Course: Latin American Anthropology (SCAN10069)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | A survey of major contemporary debates and key works in the social anthropology of Latin America. The course will have a particular focus on the different ways in which life in the region has been ¿mediated¿ through literature, food, film, music, and other kinds of cultural productions. It will also offer a geographically focused examination of race, violence, religion, urbanization, and sexuality¿topics introduced in the first and second years of the anthropology course.
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| Course description |
Anthropologists working in Latin America have been at the forefront of the discipline¿s theorization of racial and economic inequality, the culture of politics, and urban life. Latin America has also been a site for major studies of social change, including civil war, migration, and economic globalization. This course will provide students with an introduction to the major themes and debates in the anthropology of Latin America. Through a close reading and discussion of ethnographic works, films, music, and other media, students in the course will become familiar with the breadth of languages, religions, political formations, and cultural systems of the area. Particular attention will be paid to recent interests among anthropologists in urban life, violence, religious syncretism, environmental politics, sexuality, and social movements.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | 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. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand Latin America¿s place in the global economy from a socio-cultural perspective.
- Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate films, music, and other kinds of media using the tools of social theory
- Have an advanced understanding of the dynamics of religious conversion and syncretism.
- Analyse violence as a structural, symbolic, and everyday phenomenon
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of the dynamics of sexuality and politics in Latin America
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students leaving this course will
demonstrate an understanding of the methods and value of cross cultural comparative analysis
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different social and cultural contexts, institutions, processes and ideas;
evaluate alternative explanations of particular social contexts, processes, and events
be able to respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts
make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding
use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others
understand and act on social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities, and help others to do the same
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| Keywords | Latin America,anthropology,media,religion,politics,sexuality |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alex Nading
Tel: (0131 6)50 4052
Email: Alex.Nading@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Lauren Ayre
Tel: (0131 6)50 2010
Email: Lauren.Ayre@ed.ac.uk |
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