Universität Wien

142077 PS Beef Biryani or Pure-Veg Thali: Food, Religion and Politics in South Asia (2023S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 36 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The class will take place in person, however, there is the possibility of participating online if for some reason you can't make it in person. Please contact me if this is the case before hand.

  • Wednesday 01.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 08.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 15.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 22.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 29.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 19.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 26.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 03.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 10.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 17.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 24.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 31.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 07.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 14.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 21.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Wednesday 28.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Anyone who has been to South Asia knows that food is crucial. It plays a very important role as a biological necessity, as an economic commodity, as the primary ingredient of ritual and social transactions, as medium of social and familial interaction, as a marker of social boundaries, as a principle of classification, and as a focus of ethical concerns of both religious virtuosi and common people, food has always been and continues to be at the heart of Indian ritual practice, social behavior, common etiquette, and theological speculation.
In this seminar we will explore different examples were food and religious concepts weave the social realities of India. We will look at different religious communities –such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Islam– and their relationship to food. We will study food in its daily consumption, as well as special feasts that mark religious events in the calendar of different religious communities in India, or other special occasions such as the food consumed during life-cycle rites. We will also look at the different ways in which food is exchanged: begging, fasting, feasting etc. Most importantly our main focus will be on how food can be both the medium and the message of social conflict and how it gets mediated in the context of South Asia.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular and active participation in all sessions of the seminar. Points will be deducted for non-attendance without a valid reason (illness or similar). There is no longer written seminar paper at the end, only a slightly longer final assignment and an oral exam.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Written and oral participation will be evaluated.
Oral performance (40%) includes participation in weekly discussions, text interpretation and analysis; oral presentation of mini-essays, etc.
Written performance (40%) includes weekly mini-essays and a final short seminar assignment in written form.
An oral exam on the themes discussed in class will account for additional 20% of the grade.
The proseminar will be held in German. However, most of the literature is in English and assignments can be written in English if needed.

Examination topics

Each session has a specific topic. There is a requested reading and additional material which is provided on Moodle. Slides will also be uploaded to Moodle after each session. Specific questions for each session's topic are listed therein and are then exam material.

Reading list

A bibliography including a selection of texts and other resources will be available via Moodle.

Association in the course directory

BA5

Last modified: Th 16.02.2023 14:28