240018 PS Reading Anthropological Texts (2015W)

This seminar series covers some of the foundational texts of Social and Cultural Anthropology. Their analysis shall provide the students with an obviously incomplete genealogy of anthropological thought of the last 150 years or so for two reasons. First, students are expected to gain insights into the emergence and history of Social and Cultural Anthropology in order to critically reflect upon the contemporary state of the discipline. Second, students will also acquire some of the basic techniques for academic work, including the critical reading, analysis and interpretation of social scientific and philosophical texts.
Seminars with group presentations and discussions. All seminar literature will be provided via moodle. Students will be assisted in their analysis, interpretation and discussion of the requested reading.
As a group, the students will explore the texts of our discipline's founding mothers and fathers in order to create an awareness of what it means to do anthropology and to be an anthropologist in the 21st century. Meanwhile, they are encouraged to develop and consolidate their theoretical standing, analytical skills and methodological reflection.