Anthropology

Making Sense of Humanity: Key Concepts in Anthropology

Module code: L6067
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you’ll explore how anthropology contributes to understanding humanity beyond simply documenting ways of life in different societies. You’ll learn how anthropologists:

• theorise, interpret, analyse and explain different ways of life
• make these ways of life understandable to outsiders, such as informing policy and development
• build a broader picture of the nature, capacity and variation of humankind.

You’ll also critically examine the limitations and assumptions of different anthropological approaches, helping you develop a nuanced understanding of the discipline’s methods and contributions.

Module learning outcomes

• A basic grasp of the development of Social Anthropology in the twentieth century
• A constructively critical approach to key terms of social analysis, especially society, culture, individual
• A basic grasp of some of the major paradigms of anthropological thought, including functionalism, structuralism, marxism
• Practice in using key concepts in discussion and writing