Reading Ethnographic Texts I
Code
711001033
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Antropologia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
João de Freitas Leal
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
1. To develop the understanding and the critical analysis of ethnographic texts
2. To promote the reflexion about anthropological practice and writing in theoretical and methodological terms
3. To develop knowledge about the processes of construction and transmission of anthropological knowledge
4. To become aware of the multiplicity of themes and written practices in anthropology
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. The location of ethnography in anthropology
1.1. The specificities of anthropological knowledge and of the ethnographic texts
1.2. How to read ethnographies?
2. The comparison and the location of culture
2.1. Ruth Benedict and Patterns of Culture(1934)
3. Classic ethnographies: the invention of the field
3.1. Bronislaw Malinowski and The Argonauts of the Western Pacific(1922):the invention of modern ethnography
3.2. Margaret Mead and Sex and temperament in three primitive societies(1935):north american ethnography
4. Beyond ethnography: field backstage
4.1. The Diary of Bronislaw Malinowski (1967)
4.2. Margaret Mead and Letters from the Field (1977)
5. The journey as a pretext
Claude Levi-Strauss and Tristes Tropiques (1955)
6. Ethnography and life stories
Oscar Lewis and The Children of Sanchez (1961)
7. Ethnography: Interpretation and \"thick description\"
Clifford Geertz and The Interpretation of Cultures (1973)
8. That damn book! \"Writing Culture\" debate (1986)
Bibliography
Benedict, R. s/d [1934], Padrões de Cultura, Lisboa, Edições Livros do Brasil.
Clifford, J.; Marcus, G. (eds.), 1986, Writing Culture, Berkeley, University of California Press.
Gay y Blasco, Paloma; Wardle, Huon, 2007, How to Read Ethnography, London, New York, Routledge.
Geertz, C., 1993 [1973], The Interpretation of Cultures, London, Fontana Press.
Levi-Strauss, C., 1979 [1955], Tristes Trópicos, Lisboa, Edições 70.
Lewis, O., 1961, The Children of Sanchez, New York, Random House.
Malinowski, B., 1984 [1922], The Argonauts of the Western Pacific, Illinois, Waveland Press. Inc..
Malinowski, B., 1989 [1967], A Diary in the Strict Sense of the Term, Londres, Athlone Press.
Mead, M., 2001 [1935], Sex and temperament in three primitive societies, New York, Perennial.
Mead, M., 2001 [1977], Letters from the Field 1925 1975, New York, Harper and Row.
Teaching method
The course is organized in three types of classes:
1. Lectures
2. Reading workshops: lessons for critical reading of texts under the guidance of the teacher; practical exercises.
3. Oral presentation and discussion of texts by groups of students.
Evaluation method
Evaluation
30% - Oral presentation of texts + written essay by groups of students
30% - Written Test 1
30% - Written Test 2
10% - Regular attendance and active participation in class, seminars and practical exercises