240030 VO BM7 Anthropology and Environment: an Introduction (2025S)

This lecture series offers an introduction to Environmental Anthropology. Students will be introduced to the development of the discourses about human/non-human relationships from the origins of today’s theories. They will learn about the different approaches and contexts in this broad field of inquiry by studying a monograph and additional papers. Students will arrive at an understanding of the history of the field and the recent debate about the Anthropocene and will be invited to formulate their own ideas about the future of the field.
The course has three learning objectives. First, students gain insight into how anthropologists investigate human and non-human relationships. Second, students learn to recognize and evaluate the structure, argumentation, and style of selected papers that address human and non-human relationships. Third, students will develop their academic reading and writing skills, especially those necessary to analyse anthropologists’ arguments and build an original argument in response to it.

Each week, students study topics from the literature. In the accompanying lectures, the lecturer highlights key ideas and backgrounds to deepen students’ understanding of the literature. The lectures should help students understand the development of certain arguments and their connection to current ecological problems.
While the lectures as such are not part of the examination, regular lecture attendance is strongly recommended for students who wish to pass the exam.
The lectures will take in presence and will not be recorded.

The following academic skills will be learned or further developed in this course:
• insight into the relationship between environment and anthropological theories;
• knowledge about anthropological theories and approaches regarding the theme of the course;
• analyzing and evaluating ethnographic articles;
• Recognise and develop an academic argument, and develop a personal understanding.