Postgraduate Course: Kinship, Religion and the Self in South Asia (PGSP11045)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Postgrad (School of Social and Political Studies) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course consists of two related sections. The first considers the Indian family and domestic life-crisis ceremonies in the light of indigenous ideas regarding selfhood, sexuality, and procreation. The second examines contemporary Hinduism in both rural and urban contexts, stressing practice rather than theology or textual sources. The two themes are linked through the study of divine kinship among gods and goddesses, as portrayed in mythology and as acted out in the ceremonies and liturgies of Hindu temples. The aim is to explore cultural consistencies in the areas of religious and domestic life among Hindus. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| Postgraduate students attending this course will acquire an understanding of the rich cultural contexts of everyday life in contemporary South Asia, particularly the practical, economic, and ideological importance of families in rural and urban contexts. They will gain an advanced understanding of the varied forms of contemporary Hinduism, focusing on practices of ordinary Hindus rather than scriptural and textual sources. By the conclusion of the course, they will be in a position to assess how these two aspects of modern South Asian life interpenetrate, enrich, and reinforce one another. The course also provides a practical introduction to the ways in which anthropologists employ their distinctive ethnographic and analytical methods in the study of broad cultural themes in complex, literate civilizations. |
Assessment Information
(i) 1 long essay (4000 words) worth 80% of the available marks
(ii) 1 short written assignment (max. 1500 words) worth 20% of the available marks |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jacob Copeman
Tel: (0131 6)50 6860
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Madina Howard
Tel: (0131 6)51 1659
Email: |
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