Course content

This course will give insights into how anthropologists understand, study, and analyze the contemporary, and lay the foundation for discussions around the role of anthropology in today’s world.

The course will show how we can use anthropology to understand several aspects of today’s world. Themes may include:

• Anthropological studies of modernity, post-colonialism, globalization, neoliberalism, democracy, the Anthropocene, and climate change.
• Larger tendencies in how recent anthropology relates to our interlocutors and the cases we study.
• The course will be updated in response to contemporary trends and contain an actuality-module with anthropological writings on topics related to current events.

The course will open for discussion about the role of anthropologists and the field of anthropology in the world today. Throughout the last few decades, the field has turned away from earlier views of the researcher as an observer who can produce neutral knowledge. Today, there are many other ways of carrying out the role of anthropologists, including the anthropologist as activist, the anthropologist as system critic, as ally, and as participant in public management.

By looking at the different roles anthropologists can take, we will be able to discuss questions about what ways and to what extent anthropologists can or should be involved with what we study.

Learning outcome

A student who has completed the course is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

Knowledge about how anthropologists analyze different aspects of the contemporary world

Knowledge of a selection of thematic areas in recent anthropology

Insight into the different roles anthropologists envision for the field in today’s world

Skills

Ability to approach current events in an anthropological way

Ability to critically discuss the role of anthropology and anthropologists in today’s world

General competence

Ability to communicate academic material through presentations and writing

Ability to plan and carry out a group project

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars.

Please note that mandatory activities and lectures may start prior to the registration deadline.

Compulsory assignments

• Group project with presentation

Recommended previous knowledge

SANT1020 and SANT1024

Course materials

The reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester.