Course syllabus

 

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Subject and Catalogue Number: Course Name

SEMESTER 2, 2018

15 points

 
Course Convenor: 

 Susanna Trnka - s.trnka@auckland.ac.nz

Teacher:

 Susanna Trnka - s.trnka@auckland.ac.nz

Course delivery format:

Lecture times: Tuesdays 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Seminar times: Tuesdays 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

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

 Summary of Course Description:              

 This course examines cultural and historical variations in how societies understand and experience the human body. Our focus will be primarily on social, historical and political-economic approaches. Considering an array of topics such as labour, sport, health, illness, sexuality, gender and ethnic violence, we will explore how the human body is culturally constructed and socially experienced in a diverse range of settings.

Course Objectives:

  • To expand students’ awareness of the human body as a culturally- and historically-situated object
  • For students to become well versed in some of the major theoretical approaches to the body, particularly the work of M. Douglas, P. Bourdieu and M. Foucault
  • For students to successfully undertake independent research on a topic of their choice
  • For students to work together in small groups in order to develop an in-depth understanding and assessment of one set of readings
  • To foster an environment in which students develop their own perspectives by engaging in critical debate with one another

 

Assessment Summary:

Essay Assignment: (40% + 5% topic/biblio):  3,500 word paper on a topic related to Anthropology of the Body. Bibliography and Topic (5%) are due on Tuesday 14 August. The essay is due on Monday, 24 September.

Final assignment: (25%) Series of essays totaling no more than 2,000 words. Due on Friday, October 19.

In Class Group Presentation: (20%): based on a group presentation that extends  the central concepts and themes in one week’s readings. More details will be explained in our first seminar meeting.

In Class Participation: (10%): based on participation in class discussions.

 

Weekly Topics:

Part I.  Introduction to Anthropology of the Body

Tues, 17 July - The End of the Body? Or New Beginnings?

Part II. The Social Body: Morality, Community and the State

Tues 24 July -  Bodily Moralities - Illness and Death

Tues 31 July - BioPower, Governmentality, and Technologies of the Self

Tues 7 Aug - Drugs: Pleasure, Love, and Capitalism

Part III. Social Relations and Bodily Identities

Tues 14 Aug - Aesthetics and Body Modification

Tues 21 Aug - Embodiment and the Senses

Tues 11 Sept – The Body in the Pacific - guest lecturer Anja Uhlmann

Tues 18 Sept - Ethnic and Religious Identities: The Making of “Them” vs. “Us”

Tues 25 Sept - Responsible Sexualities

Tues 2 Oct - Virtual Bodies and Technological Extensions

Tues 9 Oct - Changing Technologies of Childbirth and Reproduction

Tues 16 Oct - Final Lecture – Overview and Wrap Up

 

Prescribed Texts:

 Will all be available on Canvas.

 

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.

Course summary:

Date Details Due