Social and Cultural Anthropology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen - P Social and Cultural Anthropology

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1 Social and Cultural Anthropology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology I

2 The pre-master s course in Social and Cultural Anthropology offers students basic knowledge and skills needed for participation in the Master s programme in Social and Cultural Anthropology. The programme is meant for students with a Dutch higher vocational qualification or with a first degree that is not equivalent to a three-year Dutch university Bachelor s degree in Anthropology. The first part covers modules regarding basic knowledge of social and cultural anthropology; the second part focuses on the methodology of anthropological research; the third part consists of writing a pre-master s thesis, to demonstrate that the student is ready for the advanced level of the Master s. Overview of the programme: Year schedule Social and Cultural Anthropology. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology II

3 Inhoudsopgave P Social and Cultural Anthropology 1 sca elective courses 1 1 sca elective courses 2 1 sca compulsory courses 1 Vak: Anthropology of Religion 2 Vak: Culture and Citizenship 3 Vak: Development and Globalization 4 Vak: Ethnographic monographs 5 Vak: History and Theory of Anthropology 6 Vak: Identity, Ethnicity and Nationalism 7 Vak: Introduction Anthropology 8 Vak: Premasters's Thesis in Social and Cultural Anthropology 8 Vak: Professional and Thematic Orientation on Anthropology 9 Vak: Qualitative Research Methods 10 Vak: Social Research Methodology 11 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology III

4 P Social and Cultural Anthropology Opleidingsdelen: sca elective courses 1 sca elective courses 2 sca compulsory courses sca elective courses 1 Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Anthropology of Religion Period S_AR Development and Globalization sca elective courses 2 Period S_DG Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Culture and Citizenship Period S_CC Identity, Ethnicity and Nationalism sca compulsory courses Period S_IEN Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Ethnographic monographs Period S_ETHMO History and Theory of Anthropology Period S_HTA Introduction Anthropology Period S_IA Premasters's Thesis in Social and Cultural Anthropology Professional and Thematic Orientation on Anthropology Qualitative Research Methods Period S_PMCTsca Period S_PTOA Period S_QRM Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 1 van 13

5 Social Research Methodology Period S_SRM Anthropology of Religion Course code S_AR () Period Period 1 prof. dr. M.P.J. van de Port D. Jethro MA, prof. dr. M.P.J. van de Port Lecture, Study Group This course offers an introduction to classical and contemporary anthropological approaches and theories of religion, and highlights the role of religion in processes of identity construction in various settings (from subcultures to fundamentalist movements, from possession cults to new public rituals). Students become acquainted with central concepts such as myth, ritual, symbol and embodiment and will be able to apply these concepts to interpret contemporary religious phenomena. Starting point for this course is the thoroughly anthropological thought that an investigation of religion should begin with the concrete forms in which religion presents itself to us in a research setting; then to come to an idea as to what kind of questions can be asked about this phenomenon. Six phenomenological dimensions of religion will be pondered: spaces, words, objects, performances, groups and bodies. We will discuss how these phenomena are inscribed in religious practices, and how religious practices are grounded in these phenomena. From the understanding of these very concrete manifestations of religion we will work towards the larger issues and debates in the anthropology of religion: how to conceptualize religion and its role and meaning in the life of people? Lectures and tutorial Assignments (30%) and exam (70%) - Lambek, M. (ed) (2007) A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell. - Additional texts, to be announced. Elective course for students in 2nd year of BSc CAO; optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students of the Exchange Programme and of Bachelor s programmes in the Netherlands. Remarks Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 2 van 13

6 This course is open to students from various disciplines who have completed their first year of their Bachelor programme. Students are invited to participate in discussions in class. Attendance of lectures and classes is obligatory. Culture and Citizenship Course code S_CC () Period Period 2 dr. A.J. Salman dr. A.J. Salman Lecture Students gain knowledge of and insight in the differences in perceptions of citizenship rights and democracy, both based on ethnography and in the setting of the contemporary celebration of the right to cultural difference. Additionally, they reflect on the dilemmas contained in today's controversies on, on the one hand, fostering and respecting cultural difference, and on the other hand the struggle for human rights universals. It is the cultural right of an ethnic or religious community to administer internal justice in accordance with its traditions. It is however also the universal right of any accused to be held innocent until proven guilty, to physical integrity and to a lawyer of one's choice. In this course we will reflect upon the uneasy merger of the vocabulary of the judiciary, rights and universal ethics on the one hand, with the idiom of cultural traditions and identities on the other. First, we will look into different 'cultured' perceptions of notions such as (human, citizen) rights, 'good' politics and politicians, and democratic rule. The cases will illustrate that no such thing as a shared interpretation exists on what rights and democracy exactly mean. Next, we will look into current cultural and ethnic pleas to be entitled to different views and practices with regard to (individual) freedoms and political rule. Finally, we will reflect upon the consequences of these findings for the universalist claim with regard to democracy and individual human and citizen rights. The course will be anthropological in approach, not anchored in political sciences or law studies. The regional emphasis in this course will be on Latin America. Lectures and class discussions. Two written assignments during the course (25%), final take home exam (75%). A compilation of book chapters and articles; most of which will be digitally available. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 3 van 13

7 Obligatory course in Minor Development Studies; elective course for students in PMC SCA; optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students and the Exchange Programme. Remarks This course is open to students from various disciplines who have completed their first year of their Bachelor programme. Students are invited to participate in discussion in class. Development and Globalization Course code S_DG () Period Period 1 dr. F. Colombijn dr. F. Colombijn Lecture The aim of this course is to foster students insight into issues of poverty, global inequality and development. Students will develop an anthropological perspective on developmental issues in the Global South. The development of a capitalist economy in the North and the ongoing, global restructuring of the economy have impacted on economic and social development of the global South. Policies of states, supranational development agencies, and local NGOs to raise the standard of living in the so-called less developed countries have not attained the success levels hoped for. In fact, growth-oriented policies may have negative side effects, such as increased inequality, both within and between states, and ecological degradation. In this course, we analyse the interactions between (inter)national stakeholders and local populations, substantiating how particularly the labelled poor experience inequality and poverty. We also highlight potential and experienced gaps between intentions and outcomes of development policies and look at what anthropology can contribute to development debates and policy implementation. Lectures and tutorial Assignments (40%) and exam (60%) - McCann, Gerard & Stephen McCloskey (eds.), From the local to the global. Key issues in development studies [2nd edition], London: Pluto Press, ISBN Willis, Katie, Theories and practices of development [2nd edition], London and New York: Routledge, ISBN Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 4 van 13

8 - Some additional articles. Obligatory course for students in the minor Development Studies; elective course for students in 2nd year of BSc CAO; optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students and students of the Exchange Programme. Remarks This course is open to students from various disciplines who have completed their first year of their Bachelor programme. Students are invited to participate in discussion in class. Ethnographic monographs Course code S_ETHMO () Period Period 5 drs. B.G. Keuper drs. B.G. Keuper Study Group, Lecture Students gain knowledge of ethnographic monographs within their historical and theoretical context; they are able to present this knowledge on paper and in an oral presentation. This course offers students the opportunity to read and analyse ethnographies of more or less famous anthropologists; a classical and a contemporary one. Tools for analysis and comprehension will be provided. Students submit a written review of one classical and one contemporary monograph, which includes a critical summary of the book and an analysis of the theoretical and methodological choices made by the author. To enlarge the knowledge of anthropological monographs, students also write twice a critical comment on a review of a fellow student. Added to that reviews are presented to the class in oral (group) presentations. Tutorial Two book reviews (80%) and two peer reviews (20%). - Gay y Blasco, P. and H. Wardle (2007) How to Read Ethnography. London/New York: Routledge. - A classical monograph (before 1970), a contemporary monograph (after 1970); both selected from a list. Obligatory course for students in the 2nd year of BSc CAO and of PMC SCA; optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 5 van 13

9 students of the Exchange Programme. Remarks Basic knowledge in the social sciences is requested. History and Theory of Anthropology Course code S_HTA () Period Period 3 dr. F. Colombijn dr. F. Colombijn Lecture Students are able to describe the range of theoretical and methodological perspectives in social and cultural anthropology, their historical development, their philosophical grounding and their relevance for contemporary theory. The course presents an overview of the main theoretical developments in the discipline of anthropology. Attention will be paid to the epistemological groundings of anthropological statements. Anthropological knowledge is always a product of a certain era and a certain historical situation; there is no eternal, and perhaps even no cumulative knowledge. Students will read seminal texts of famous anthropologists (Tylor, Mauss, Malinowski, Mead, Geertz, and others), which were often highly controversial at the time they were first published, and nowadays constitute the anthropological canon. By studying these texts in the context of their respective times, students will learn about the intentions, assumptions and styles of the authors and not least about the characteristics of the era. Lecture and class discussions Written exam (60%) and short essay (40%) - McGee, R.J. and R.N Warms (eds), (2008). Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History. Boston: McGraw-Hill Education, 4th revised edition. (appr. 60 euro). - Some additional texts, to be announced. Obligatory course for students in the 2nd year of BSc CAO and of PMC SCA; optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students and students of the Exchange Programme. Remarks Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 6 van 13

10 Basic knowledge in the social sciences is requested. Identity, Ethnicity and Nationalism Course code S_IEN () Period Period 2 dr. E.W. Bal dr. E.W. Bal Lecture Students will be familiarized with academic debates about ethnicity, nationalism, nation-building, and the politics of identity; as these are central concepts in many anthropological studies. The concepts of ethnicity, nationalism, nation-building, and the politics of identity are much discussed in anthropology. They refer to processes of community building and belonging, and to power struggles that we can witness all over the world and in a wide variety of situations. Students will acquire a thorough theoretical knowledge and critical understanding of these concepts. How are identities socially constructed? How are identities being used? The students assess the political dimensions of ethnicity and nationalism, and the way they are articulated in all kinds of situations. The course also addresses various topics in relation to ethnicity such as the politics of identity, transnationalism and migration flows, (violent) conflicts, indigenous self-organization, politics of religion, and the role of modern media in political processes. At the same time, even though many people consider ethnicity and the nation hard facts, as academic concepts they are vague and controversial. How can we assess these issues that are so central in many people s lives, yet avoid falling into a pitfall of essentializing them? Lectures Written exam (60%) and mid-term review (40%) - Eriksen, T.H. (2002). Ethnicity and Nationalism. Anthropological Perspectives. London: Pluto Press (2nd revised edition). - Other literature will be announced at the start of the course. Optional course for 2nd and 3rd year Bachelor s students and students of the Exchange Programme. Remarks This course is open to students from various disciplines who have completed their first year of their Bachelor programme. Students are Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 7 van 13

11 invited to participate in discussions in class. Attendance of lectures and classes is obligatory. Introduction Anthropology Course code S_IA () Period Period 1 dr. S.J.T.M. Evers dr. S.J.T.M. Evers Study Group Students gain knowledge of key concepts and debates in anthropology and are trained in writing a paraphrase and an academic essay. The course introduces students into the discipline of anthropology and the relevance of anthropology for understanding the challenges that people and groups face in the globalizing world. The various approaches and particular methods of anthropology, the concept of 'culture', and the central questions and specializations within anthropology will be discussed. The course will highlight the variety of human cultures, the idea of 'fieldwork', the central concepts of religion, ritual, symbol, kinship, ethnicity and gender. Students will also get acquainted with development issues, and current queries concerning globalization, identity, tradition, migration and multiculturalism. To enhance the learning process in which concepts are not only memorized, but also applied, there will be question, reflection, and debate interludes during classes. Next to the lectures, students receive coaching during the writing process of a paraphrase and an essay. Lectures and tutorial Written exam (60%), paraphrase assignment (20%), essay assignment (20%) - Eriksen, Thomas Hylland (2001 or later edition) Small Places, Large Issues: An Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology. London/Sterling: Pluto Press (appr. 30 euro) - Additional literature for the written assignments Remarks Attendance is obligatory. Premasters's Thesis in Social and Cultural Anthropology Course code S_PMCTsca () Period Period 5+6 Credits 12.0 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 8 van 13

12 dr. M.H.G. den Uyl dr. M.H.G. den Uyl Study Group Students demonstrate in this course that they can design a (literature) research and report on it in a thesis at Bachelor's level. They can reflect critically on theoretical literature and are able to integrate empirical research data in their thesis. With the thesis students finish the Pre-Master's Class in SCA by integrating acquired knowledge and skills of the preceding courses. Students formulate a problem statement and a research design, carry out the research and report the results in a thesis. The research is mainly built on literature search, but also on a limited field research, consisting of a few interviews, (participant) observation and/or analysis of primary sources. Students are free to choose the topic insofar the coordinator can find a suitable supervisor; students are advised to stay close to the staff's research interests in order to get the best possible supervision. The thesis complies with the requirements of academic writing, concerning depth of argumentation, structure, style, layout, and references. The length of the thesis should be words, or 25 pages A4. Seminar and tutorial. Students work on their thesis independently but will be supported by weekly seminar classes to discuss methodological, ethical, and rhetorical issues. Additionally each student will be coached by an individual supervisor in their research and writing process. The coordinator will oversee the students to finish the thesis in time. Thesis Literature depends on the topic Entry requirements Before starting with their pre-master's thesis, students are expected to have participated in all the courses of the pre-master's course in SCA and should have passed seventy percent of all the courses. Obligatory course for students of the pre-master s in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Professional and Thematic Orientation on Anthropology Course code S_PTOA () Period Period 4 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 9 van 13

13 Dutch dr. L.A. Brouwer dr. L.A. Brouwer, S. Dalby MA Study Group This course combines three aims. In the first place students will be able to reflect on their qualifications and expectations regarding their professional career after completion of their Master s in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Secondly, students enlarge their capacity and awareness to support their search for a job successfully. The third aim is that students broaden their knowledge of a theme they want to focus on in their professional career. Students investigate the position of anthropologists in the professional labour market and how they can prepare themselves to develop the profile they want to have at the start of their professional career after completing their Master s. Creative assignments help students to answer the following questions: What are my capacities? What are my qualifications? What do I know? And: What kind of professional career would I like to have? Which knowledge and skills do I have to improve for reaching this goal? This self reflection should be linked with experiences and motivation, to gain insight into gaps to bridge between the actual situation and the career wished for. Students will write a CV, will interview persons in jobs they would like to have and will be trained in application interviewing by way of role playing. Students will also select a theme for a literature research to prepare for the pre-master s thesis in Social and Cultural Anthropology and the subsequent Master s research and thesis; they will report this research in a short final paper. Tutorial Various smaller assignments (50%), oral presentations (10%), final paper (40%). To be announced Entry requirements Students are expected to have participated in all the previous courses of the Pre-Master's Class in SCA and should have passed seventy percent of these. Obligatory course for students of the pre-master s in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Qualitative Research Methods Course code S_QRM () Period Period 4 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 10 van 13

14 dr. E. Grassiani dr. E. Grassiani Lecture, Study Group, Practical After this course a student knows how to: - Use several qualitative data collection methods and qualitative analytical methods; - Reflect on the role of the researcher during all phases of the research process; - Code, interpret, analyze and report information from several (digital) sources; - Apply discourse analysis. This course is a continuation of Social Research Methodology in which students got to know some qualitative research methods. In this course they will learn more about the scientific paradigm that is most frequently used in qualitative research, and how this bears consequences for the research design, the collection of data and data analysis. Students will also apply several related skills, such as observation techniques, and types of qualitative interviewing. Constant attention is paid to the relation between research question, observations and research method, and to the role of the researcher him or herself during the research process (ethics an reflection). In addition, several types of interpretation of qualitative data and the analysis of these data will be discussed. Much emphasis will be put on discourse analysis. Attention will also be paid to style of writing, the ethnographic voice, writing a narrative, and thick description. Finally, an instruction in Atlas.ti (or some equivalent package) will be given. Lectures, workgroups and practical tutorials. Attendance is mandatory. Individual Assignments 20%, Presentation 20%,Group research report 40% and Individual paper 20% Not yet known BSc 2 CAO, PMC SCA and exchange students. Social Research Methodology Course code S_SRM () Period Period 2 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 11 van 13

15 dr. L.S. Nencel dr. L.S. Nencel Lecture After this course a student knows: - The most important social scientific approaches and is able to relate these approaches to how social scientific research is done; - How to translate a research problem into a research question, and decide on the appropriate research design; - The theoretical and practical considerations in order to make the step from a research design to the collection and analysis of data; - The most important data collection methods and analytical methods and can decide which one or which combination to use in order to answer a given research question. This course is an introduction to the social scientific research process. On the one hand it shows that a researcher s scientific approach often coincides with the choice of an appropriate research design and accompanying data collection methods and analytical methods. A clear line can be drawn from problem, via research question, research design, data collection, data analysis, to the interpretation of the results (the empirical cycle). This course shows the implicit dependency in this cycle. During this course the role of knowledge, theories, and research paradigms when setting up a research question (exploratory, descriptive, confirmatory) will be explained. Given a research question insights are offered on how to come to an answer. It will be made clear that several approaches exist. The two most important ones are the interpretative approach (often related to so-called qualitative research) and the positivist approach (often related to so-called quantitative research). These approaches may complement each other, but often this is not the case. On the other hand, this course provides an overview of several data collection techniques and analytical methods. Data collection methods that will be discussed are the use of questionnaires (nowadays often online), keeping interviews (structured, open, using focus groups), a study of texts and images, observation methods, experiments, et cetera. Important issues before, during and after the collection of data such as operationalization, reliability, validity, the order of data, subjectivity, causality, generalization, ethics, reflection, extreme cases will be dealt with. A next step in the empirical cycle is how to analyze the given data (although in some instances data collection and the analysis of data can not easily be separated). Methods that will be discussed are statistical analysis, discourse analysis, content analysis, the analysis of secondary data, network analysis, etc. Based on the analysis, the results and its interpretation have to be described such that it does justice to the research problem, the data collection method, and analytical method. Lectures Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 12 van 13

16 Written examination (multiple choice) - Gerhard G. van de Bunt & Lorraine Nencel (compilers). Social Research Methodology: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches (2011). Pearson Custom Publishing. PMC PS, PMC SCA and exchange students Remarks - It is not allowed to keep the exam after you have taken it. - It is absolutely necessary to buy Social Research Methodology. The book is delivered with a code that is needed to use the online learning system which will be used intensively during the course. - Social Research Methodology can only be bought at the VU bookstore. In other bookstores it is not for sale. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - P Social and Cultural Anthropology Pagina 13 van 13