Course content

How do you think about the future? Which images come to your mind? A secular utopian future or religiously based apocalypse? Images of continuous technological development? Of man-induced ecological disasters? Of war? Of eternal peace and emancipation? Of an eternal paradise or hell? In this course, you will analyse the anthropological toolkit in relationship with time in general and the future in particular. You will explore, from an anthropological perspective, some of the multiple ways in which different societies and at different times have imagined their futures. By bringing these futures as anthropological objects of study, you will be able to analyse and compare them, identify their different genres and their structures, their functions as well as their internal logics and predicaments. You will explore how these imaginations impinge on everyday lives, and how they are used as means for social mobilization, legitimation and de-legitimation of social action and even for entertainment.

Learning outcome

Upon completion of the course:
You will have gained a broad knowledge of how different societies and in different periods construct images of their futures.
You will have obtained broad knowledge of the content and cultural specificity of a variety of empirical imaginations of the future, and you will have explored some of their different genres and styles.
You will have gained a broad knowledge of conceptual tools, concepts, and theories for the anthropological and social scientific study of temporalities in general, and of the future in particular.
You will develop the ability to anthropologically identify, analyse, interpret, and critically evaluate imaginations of the future, as well as their different genres and their potential uses.
You will have acquired first-hand experience in the application of anthropological and social scientific concepts for the analysis of concrete imaginations of the future, as well as presenting the results of such analysis both orally and in writing.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and seminars.
SANT2020, SANT2021, SANT2024, AFR2120 og SANT3508: Minimum one 15 credits will be offered in the spring semester. Which course/s that is offered will be announced at the beginning of the spring semester. The announcement will be made at the Department and on the Department's web page.

Compulsory assignments

• Oral presentation in seminars

Recommended previous knowledge

SANT1020, SANT1021, SANT1022 and SANT1023 or AFR1012, SANT1000, SANT1001, SANT1002 and SANT1103.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

See reading list available at the beginning of the semester