Universität Wien
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240502 SE MM1 Heritage and Anthropology (2025W)

Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!

The lecturer can invite students to a grade-relevant discussion about partial achievements. Partial achievements that are obtained by fraud or plagiarized result in the non-evaluation of the course (entry 'X' in certificate). The plagiarism software 'Turnitin' will be used.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.

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. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 29.10. 09:45 - 13:00 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 03.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 05.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 10.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 12.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 17.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock
  • Wednesday 19.11. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal C, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

During this course, students will read selected papers that critically deal with the topic of “heritage” in its tangible and intangible aspects. Attention will be given to the problematization of the Western definitions of cultural and natural heritage in relation to indigenous land rights and intellectual property. This will provide an opportunity to reflect on the local impacts of heritagization policies and practices in Europe and beyond.
The course has three learning objectives. First, students gain insight into current debates about heritage and anthropology. Second, students learn to recognize and evaluate the structure, argumentation, and style of academic articles. Third, students develop independent academic reading skills and speaking skills, especially those necessary to analyze a text’s argument and construct an original response to it.

Assessment and permitted materials

Weekly participation and preparation of all classes is compulsory and not negotiable (to be evaluated as either “sufficient” or “not sufficient” at the end of the course). “Sufficient” participation includes a maximum of 2 missed classes, and evidence of active engagement with the compulsory study materials through participation in discussions or classroom tasks. Students who don't attend the first class will be deregistered.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

For a positive overall grade, all components must be completed positively and a total of at least 50 points must be achieved. The highest score to be achieved is 100 and corresponds to a 1 (very good).
The quantity AND quality of participation are assessed in the oral work, while the time allocation, the structure and content of the presentation and the questions with discussion leader are assessed in the pre-structuring with discussion leader.

Assessment standard:
87,5 very good (1)
>= 75 good (2)
>= 62,5 satisfactory (3)
>= 50 enough (4)
< 50 not enough (5)

Examination topics

Attendance is compulsory (maximum 2 hours of absence).
The performance assessment consists of four (oral and written) components:
(a) active, discussion-based reading of the compulsory reading (15 points),
(b) Written preparation and organization of the class discussion- including an oral presentation (up to 45 points)
(c) Weekly notes to upload on Moodle (15 points)
(d) Final exam is set at the end of the seminar (25 points)

Secondary literature is allowed as an aid.
The use of AI (especially ChatGPT) is only permitted for all partial performances with the explicit request of the teacher.

Reading list

1. Bachis, Francesco. 2025. “‘Something I Cannot Look at’: Ruins and Dialectic of Temporalities in Southwest Post-Mining Sardinia (Italy).” Journal of Modern Italian Studies 30 (1): 79–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/1354571X.2024.2424095.
2. Bindi, Letizia, ed. 2022. Grazing Communities: Pastoralism on the Move and Biocultural Heritage Frictions. Berghahn Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2vr8tp1.(limited to chapter 4)
3. Hafstein, Valdimar Tr. 2018. “Intangible Heritage as a Festival; or, Folklorization Revisited.” Journal of American Folklore 131 (520): 127–49. https://doi.org/10.5406/jamerfolk.131.520.0127.
4. Harrison, Rodney. 2013. Heritage: Critical Approaches. 1. publ. Heritage Studies. London: Routledge. (chapters 2, 3, 6 and 8).
5. Lähdesmäki, Tuuli. 2019. “Conflicts and Reconciliation in the Postmillennial Heritage-Policy Discourses of the Council of Europe and the European Union.” In Dissonant Heritages and Memories in Contemporary Europe, 25–50. Palgrave Macmillan UK.
6. Noyes, Dorothy. 2016. Humble Theory: Folklore’s Grasp on Social Life. Indiana University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1zxz0bs.
7. O’Connor, Sue, Sandra Pannell, and Sally Brockwell. 2013. “The Dynamics of Culture and Nature in a ‘Protected’ Fataluku Landscape.” In Transcending the Culture–Nature Divide in Cultural Heritage Views from the Asia-Pacific Region, 203–33. Canberra: Australian National University E Press.
8. Parga Dans, Eva, and Pablo Alonso González. 2021. “The Unethical Enterprise of the Past: Lessons from the Collapse of Archaeological Heritage Management in Spain.” Journal of Business Ethics 172 (3): 447–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04504-6.
9. Turnen, Johanna. 2019. “A Geography of Coloniality: Re-Narrating European Integration.” In Dissonant Heritages and Memories in Contemporary Europe, 185–214. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.
10. Ween, Gro B. 2012. “World Heritage and Indigenous Rights: Norwegian Examples.” International Journal of Heritage Studies 18 (3): 257–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2012.663779.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 09:27