Course syllabus

 

SEMESTER 2, 2017
Course Information

• Course Coordinator 

Maureen Molloy ma.molloy@auckland.ac.nz

Office hours: 12:00 - 2:00, Tuesdays or by appointment; HSB 836

• Course delivery format

3 hours of lectures, discussions and workshops

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

Summary of Course Description              

This course explores a selection of key themes and debates at the cutting edge of contemporary social anthropology, particularly issues of wider relevance and public concern. The course takes at its starting point the idea of the Anthropocene and the challenges it poses.

Course outcomes

Students who complete the course should

• Be familiar with current topical issues in Anthropology;
• Understand how these issues challenge the work and meanings of anthropology;
• Be able to summarise and comment on academic writings of varying lengths
• Be able to work cooperatively and positively with other students.
• Be able to develop and present research in visual and/or written form.
• Be able to work in a small group to develop, research and present on a topic.
• Be able to give peers constructive criticism which will aid in the preparation of their assignments

Weekly Topics

24 July Anthropology and the Anthropocene

 “Lexicon for an Anthropocene…”; Chakrabarty 2017; Morton 2017;  Nixon 2017; 

25 July No Class

31 July Where are the Boundaries? Part 1

Anthropology: The Study of ...What?

Haraway 2008: Introduction

Kohn 2013: Introduction

1 August Organization of assignments and assignment groups

 

7 August Where are the Boundaries?

Guest: Dr. Nicolas Malone

(Cassidy 2012; Eason 2013; Malone et al 2014)

8 August Workshop on Reports

 

14 August:  Haraway Reports:

Hour 1: Chapters 2, 3, 4,5, 6,

Hour 2 Chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

15 August: Review of Reports: Tying specific ideas to organising concepts

 

21 August Kohn Reports

Hour 1 Chapters 1, 2, 3

Hour 2, Chapters 4, 5, 6

22 August: How Forests Talk to Each Other

 

28 August Where are the boundaries? Review

29 August Essay Workshop

 

31 August Haraway and Kohn Essays due

 

INTER-SEMESTER BREAK

 

18 September Where are the Boundaries?

Machines, Microbes and Scalpels

Ikels 2013;  Lock 2015, Marks 2014.

19 September TBA

 

25 September Where are the Boundaries?

Culture vs Nature?

Downey & Lende: Introduction and 1 chapter; Thayer et al. 2015.

26 September

The cost of inequality

 

2 October Where are the Boundaries? Virtually Real

Nardi 2015; The Internet: Integration.

3 October

Exploring the expanding limits

 

9 October

Where are the Boundaries? Facts, Alternative Facts and Magical Thinking

Gonzalez 2017; Mair 2017; Lindesfarme & Rayner 2016; Rayner 2014.

 

10 October 247 Group 1 Posters

 

16 October 331 Student Presentations

17 October 247 Group 2 Posters

 

23 October 331 Student Presentations

No Class—extra office hour

30 October: Final Assignments Due

Workload:

The University of Auckland's expectation on 15-point courses, is that students spend 10 hours per week on the course. Students manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Students attend two hours of lectures each week and participate in a one-hour tutorial from week 2 of semester. This leaves seven hours per week outside the classroom to prepare for tutorials, assignments and the exam.

Deadlines and submission of coursework:

Deadlines for coursework are non-negotiable. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you will be required to provide a doctor's certificate when the assignment is due.