Around the world in 13 weeks
Global forces and cultural differences
Capitalism
Colonialism
Global religions, e.g. Christianity and Islam
transcultural discourses of conservation and sustainability
global warming and its effects on local environments
Capitalism is a culture
Capitalism is a culture, not a space of “freedom.”
In a capitalist system, people must play the role of the individual.
Capitalism creates illusions, e.g. commodity fetishism.
The conjuncture of cultures
No society exists in isolation; everyone lives in an intersection of
two or more systems.
Contemporary societies are all different, but we can understand them
all as variations on the encounter of reciprocity and
commodification.
Global forces are context for local cultural systems, and vice
versa.
This is not just true about global capitalism; we can apply the same
perspective to any global movement, even climate change.
The snake and the mongoose
Once upon a time there was a snake and a mongoose…
Many opposites - values, ideas, institutions - are not binary,
either-or. They are contradictions and they exist in an ambiguous
tension which is both a source of conflict but also creativity.
Snake and mongoose
That is, contemporary life is defined by its contradictions. There are
co-present forces in tension, leading to conflict and also unexpected
side-effects.
Everything is mixed
Categories are not dichotomous; Many opposites are actually co-present.
Tradition / modernity
Developed / undeveloped
Custom / rationality
Gift / commodity
Love / money
Each society, big or small, is also a microcosm of the whole world.
Majoring in anthropology
If you started in 2018
A major consists of 48 credit points (eight units) at three levels. The requirements for a major in anthropology are:
ANTH 1001 and 1002 (ANTH 1001 is also offered in the summer)
Two 2000-level units (e.g. culture and development, medical anthropology, gender, religion)
Four 3000-level units (e.g. Indigenous Australians Today, The Social Production of Space)
If you started before 2018
A major consists of 36 “senior” (2000-level and 3000-level units). These should include:
One senior unit from each of three types: regional (Southeast Asia, Indigenous Australia), thematic (medical anthropology, religion), and theoretical-methodological
One 3000-level unit, typically either ANTH 3601 (contemporary theories) or ANTH 3602 (reading ethnography)
Honours in anthropology: Independent thinking and research
Doing an honours year in anthropology is an opportunity to carry out an original project, working one on one with a supervisor. To qualify for honours entry, you need:
a credit average of 70 or better
across 42 senior credit points of anthropology
including ANTH3601 and ANTH3602
(if you began your course in 2018) two majors
you need to be keen and have an idea for a project! (Discuss with the honours coordinator and potential supervisors!)
Now, for a special message about our world-renowned honours program in anthropology, here's the 2019 honours coordinator, Yasmine Musharbash!
Honours in anthropology, a guide for 2019
A guide to the unit
ANTH 1002: Anthropology and the Global--A Guide to the Unit
Lecture outlines and guides: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 8.2, 9.1, 9.2, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, 13.1, 13.2.
←
→
/
#
