THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Anthropology

Undergraduate Course: Latin American Anthropology (SCAN10069)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA survey of major contemporary debates and key works in the social anthropology of Latin America. The course will have a particular focus on the different ways in which life in the region has been ¿mediated¿ through literature, food, film, music, and other kinds of cultural productions. It will also offer a geographically focused examination of race, violence, religion, urbanization, and sexuality¿topics introduced in the first and second years of the anthropology course.

Course description Anthropologists working in Latin America have been at the forefront of the discipline¿s theorization of racial and economic inequality, the culture of politics, and urban life. Latin America has also been a site for major studies of social change, including civil war, migration, and economic globalization. This course will provide students with an introduction to the major themes and debates in the anthropology of Latin America. Through a close reading and discussion of ethnographic works, films, music, and other media, students in the course will become familiar with the breadth of languages, religions, political formations, and cultural systems of the area. Particular attention will be paid to recent interests among anthropologists in urban life, violence, religious syncretism, environmental politics, sexuality, and social movements.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Anthropology courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  1
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 10, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Final essay (4,000 words) 80%
Book Review (1,000 words) 20%
Feedback The book review essay will be completed after week 5, and separate individualized feedback sessions will be held in weeks 7 and 8. These will consist of 20-30 minute sessions with the course tutor(s).

Nearer the end of the semester (i.e. in weeks 9 and 10) tutorials will focus on developing final essay plans. Guidance and feedback will be offered in these weeks on an individualized basis.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand Latin America¿s place in the global economy from a socio-cultural perspective.
  2. Demonstrate an ability to critically evaluate films, music, and other kinds of media using the tools of social theory
  3. Have an advanced understanding of the dynamics of religious conversion and syncretism.
  4. Analyse violence as a structural, symbolic, and everyday phenomenon
  5. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the dynamics of sexuality and politics in Latin America
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students leaving this course will
demonstrate an understanding of the methods and value of cross cultural comparative analysis
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of different social and cultural contexts, institutions, processes and ideas;
evaluate alternative explanations of particular social contexts, processes, and events
be able to respond effectively to unfamiliar problems in unfamiliar contexts
make effective use of oral, written and visual means to critique, negotiate, create and communicate understanding
use communication as a tool for collaborating and relating to others
understand and act on social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities, and help others to do the same
KeywordsLatin America,anthropology,media,religion,politics,sexuality
Contacts
Course organiserDr Alex Nading
Tel: (0131 6)50 4052
Email:
Course secretaryMiss Lauren Ayre
Tel: (0131 6)50 4001
Email:
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