Universität Wien

240085 SE Consuming Cities (P4) (2012W)

Anthropology of Consumption within the Materiality of Urban Cultures

Continuous assessment of course work

ATTENTION: changed beginning time!
Compulsory attendance in the first unit on october, 12th 2012.

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. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 12.10. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 15.11. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 22.11. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 29.11. 11:30 - 14:45 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Thursday 06.12. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Friday 18.01. 11:30 - 14:45 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Global Cities are strategic nodes of globalizing processes. Here, effects of globalization become visible: Migration processes, high availability of commodities and a high differentiated food system that satisfy (basic) needs of different pressure groups cause cities to be of interest to social scientists, especially food anthropologists. Consumption patterns of different ethnic, social, religious and other groups and their valuation within urban societies show the complexity of different urban life-styles. Places (street food, supermarkets, etc.), practices (festivals, ceremonies, etc.) and unique urban areas (public spaces, museums, etc.) are of high anthropological interest because an analysis makes visible differences/similarities between and within selected target groups.

Assessment and permitted materials

preparation of a written, scientific term paper

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The course introduces anthropological theory and practice about consumption in urban contexts. The students are enabled to identify and analyse research fields of consumption anthropology through studying anthropological texts and doing fieldwork in the city. Processes of appreciation and devaluation of consumer practices are shown as integral part of emphasizing differences in urban societies. The importance of materiality in urban contexts will become unveiled on different social levels and ranks.

Examination topics

The methodology of the course includes:
+ lectures including e.g. presentation of fieldwork about consumption in Latin American cities
+ presentation of documentals and videos
+ discussion of anthropological texts, text & film analysis
+ topical working groups with particular assignments
+ occasionally (not compulsory) fieldwork in the city of Vienna about consumption (done by students incl. documentation and analysis)
+ all steps supported by blended learning (Moodle)

Reading list

Belasco, Warren. 2008 Food. The Key Concepts. Oxford & New York, Berg.
Bob Ashley et al. 2004. (eds.) Food and cultural studies (Studies in consumption and markets ). London [u.a.], Routledge
Association for the Study of Food and Society (ASFS). Food, culture & society: an international journal of multidisciplinary research. Biggleswade, Berg.
Anderson, E.N.. (2005) [2004]. Everyone Eats. Understanding Food and Culture. New York and London: New York University Press.
Counihan, Carole and Penny vanEsterik (2008) [1997] (eds.). Food and Culture. A Reader. 2nd Edition. London & New York: Routledge.
Alan Warde. 1997. Consumption, food and taste. Culinary antinomies and commodity culture. London [u.a.] , Sage Publ..
Jayne, Mark 2006. Cities and Consumption. [Routledge Critical Introductions to Urbanism and the City]. London/ New York. Routledge.


Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:39