Universität Wien

142221 SE Beef Biryani or Pure-Veg Thali: Food, Religion and Politics in South Asia (2025W)

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Th 11.12. 14:30-16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37

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: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Regular and active participation in all seminar sessions is required. Unexcused absences (except for valid reasons such as illness) will result in a grade deduction. Instead of a final written seminar paper, assessment will be cumulative, based on weekly short essays and an oral examination. Please inform the instructor in advance if you are unable to attend a session.

  • Thursday 02.10. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 09.10. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 16.10. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 23.10. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 30.10. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 06.11. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 13.11. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 20.11. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 27.11. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 04.12. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 18.12. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 08.01. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 15.01. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 22.01. 14:30 - 16:00 Seminarraum 6 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-37
  • Thursday 29.01. 14:30 - 16:00 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 seminar sessions is required. Unexcused absences (e.g., without valid reasons such as illness) will result in a grade deduction. Instead of a final written seminar paper, assessment will be cumulative, based on weekly short essays and an oral examination.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Both written and oral contributions will be assessed.
The oral component (40%) includes participation in weekly discussions, text interpretation and analysis, and the oral presentation of mini-essays, among other activities.
The written component (40%) consists of the weekly mini-essays and a final short seminar paper.
An oral exam covering the topics discussed in class accounts for an additional 20% of the grade.
English is the main language of instruction. The weekly essays and the final paper may also be submitted in German. However, active oral participation in English is mandatory.

Examination topics

Each class will have a specific theme. The theme will be accompanied by a compulsory reading and at the end of the class, a PPT will be made available on Moodle. Specific questions will be listed and will be part of the exam questions.

Reading list

The literature and other materials for the course will be available via Moodle.

Association in the course directory

IMAK1

Last modified: Th 02.10.2025 13:26