Course syllabus

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The Anthropology of SPORT

EXPLORING ETHNOGRAPHY:


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SEMESTER 1, 2019 - 15 points

 

                                         Well-Being Always Comes First

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there. For more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

 

Teacher:
Alex Pavlotski
(Contact for student inquiries and course materials)

Email: alex.pavlotski@auckland.ac.nz

Course Convenor: 
Alex Pavlotski

Email: alex.pavlotski@auckland.ac.nz

Course Co-ordinator:

Christine Dureau

Email: cm.dureau@auckland.ac.nz

 

Course delivery format:

Readings - Students of Anthro 368 are required to read two readings per week (with exceptions as described in Reading List.), with a recommended third reading. 
All the readings are available via the Reading List
Weekly Lecture and Tutorial: Students are required to attend one 2-hour weekly lecture and one 1-hour Tutorial. 

Office Hours & Contact Info

Contact: HSB 810 (HSB is the Human Sciences Building, at 10 Symonds St)  

Email:  alex.pavlotski@auckland.ac.nz

Time: Consultations can be arranged via email. Alternatively, office hours are from 2-3pm Fridays

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

Summary of Course Description:      

In this subject we will combine anthropological theory with case studies from the world of sport to learn about the nature of history, culture and economy. Sports are often taken for granted or trivialized as irrelevant forms of leisure. But, through the application of ethnographic methods, social anthropologists know that sports are products of history, materiality, ideology and culture. This course will analyse sport through an anthropological lens, asking how sport is defined cross-culturally, how these definitions reflect particular cultural values and how contemporary sports contribute to the ways in which we think about ourselves and our world. We will consider some of the social, cultural and political significance of sport and use those insights to reflect on human nature, social and cultural issues and the field of sociocultural anthropology.    

Assessment Summary 

Investigation outline (15%):
Anthropological Theory – Literature Review (15%):
Podcast and Script (30%):
Critical Essay (40%)​

Weekly Topics

--- Part 1 - Looking Back ---

Week 1: Sports, Games and Play
Housekeeping, Definitions and History 

Week 2: Colonialism And A Class Act
Sport, History and the Anglo-shpere  

Week 3: Rules of the Game: All Together or All Against
En-cultured bodies and a Clash of Civilizations

--- Part 2 - Looking Forward ---

Week 4: Digital Athletes
Film

Week 5: The King of Kong
The narrative of Sport

--- Part 3 - Looking Critically ---

Week 6: States and Ideologies
National Stories and Sporting Culture

Week 7: Morality, Gambling and Alcohol
The Church, Gambling and Booze

Week 8: Identities and Sport
Sports and a sense of self.

--- Part 4 - Looking at Alternatives ---

Week 9: Alternative Sport and The Jesters of the Mountain
Movement cultures.

Week 10: Co-option and Absorption
Sport, Money and Power.

Week 11: ‘Exotic’ Embodiment
Let me tell you about this ancient practice from... 

Week 12: Bodies and Minds
Reconnecting.

Disabled Students

Please let me know early in the course of any difficulties you may have or assistance I may reasonably render. Information about Disabilities Services can be found here:https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/student-support/personal-support/students-with-disabilities.html. They can be contacted via: disability@auckland.ac.nz.
 
Workload

The expected workload commitment for a 15-pt course is approximately 10 hours/week throughout the semester, inclusive of classes and study break. You should therefore be dedicating about seven hours/week, independently of face-to-face classes, to reading, preparing for assignments and revising your notes. This course is predicated on this workload.
 
Course Non-Completion; Coursework Non-Submission

Occasionally things just don’t work out. In such cases, it maybe possible to apply for aegrotat consideration for individual pieces of coursework, provided you have solid grounds for which you can provide evidence to the university: https://uoa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2716/p/212;213/kw/Aegrotat%20and%20compassionate%20consideration%20for%20exams (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. This seems to largely apply to tests and exams, but I have occasionally seen cases in which it has been presented for other coursework. Or, if you find yourself unable to remain in the course after the two-week deadline for amending enrolment and have solid reasons for this, you may be eligible for a late deletion: https://uoa.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1464 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. I can sometimes help with this for students who have kept in touch with me during the course.

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