Anthropology

The Anthropological Imagination

Module code: L6001
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you’ll explore how anthropologists understand human behaviour and cultural diversity. You’ll examine questions such as why, despite similar cognitive capacities, we see vast cultural variation, how this diversity is created and whether it’s nature or culture that shapes human behaviour.

Using key writings, case studies and audiovisual material, you’ll engage with central concepts, fieldwork methods and anthropology’s unique genre of writing (ethnography). By the end of the module, you’ll have a solid understanding of anthropological theory, methodology and key issues from ethnographies. You’ll also develop analytical skills, the ability to generalise from case studies and the use of ethnographic evidence to support theoretical arguments.

Module learning outcomes

• A reflexive understanding of the core issues which make anthropology an important subject in the contemporary world
• Basic knowledge of the historical development in the analysis of each issue through specific examples of research
• A critical understanding of some of the key analytic perspectives as they emerge through the ethnographic examples used
• The ability to structure arguments in an anthropological frame, develop analysis and present these in written form