Course - Anthropology and the contemporary - SANT1025
Anthropology and the contemporary
New from the academic year 2025/2026
Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.
About
About the course
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
Further on evaluation
More information about the compulsory activity is available on Blackboard at the start of the semester. Compulsory activity must be approved in order to be eligible to take the exam.
Information on what the folder should contain will be given at the starts of the semester. The exam can be delivered in Norwegian, English or another Scandinavia language.
Retake exam
It is possible to retake the exam. The examination is offered both semesters. The mandatory assignments can only be taken during the same semester in which the course is being taught, so in order to retake the exam during a different semester, your assignments will need to be approved beforehand.
Recommended previous knowledge
SANT1020 and SANT1024
Course materials
The reading list will be available at the beginning of the semester.
Subject areas
- Social Sciences
- Social Anthropology