Universität Wien

240511 SE MM3 Cult and Ritual in Melanesia (2023W)

Continuous assessment of course work

Anwesenheitspflicht in der ersten Einheit!

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann Studierende zu einem notenrelevanten Gespräch über erbrachte Teilleistungen einladen.
Plagiierte oder erschlichene Teilleistungen führen zur Nichtbewertung der Lehrveranstaltung (Eintragung eines 'X' im Sammelzeugnis). Es kommt die Plagiatssoftware Turnitin zum Einsatz.

Die Verwendung von KI-Tools (z. B. ChatGPT) zur Erbringung von Teilleistungen ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich gefordert wird.

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: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The course takes place in presence on site at the KSA and starts every Tuesday punctually at 15.00 o'clock.

  • Tuesday 03.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 10.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 17.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 24.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 31.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 07.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 14.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 21.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 28.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 05.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 12.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 09.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 16.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 23.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock
  • Tuesday 30.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal A, NIG 4.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The region of Melanesia within the greater Oceania region was characterized by an extremely great cultural diversity. This is reflected both in the large number of languages present, but even more so in the numerous social, cultural, ritual and religious practices found in the ethnically, linguistically and culturally very heterogeneous world. Ethnologists and anthropologists have been paying attention to specific practices and cultural features of Melanesia since the existence of our discipline. The course shows exemplarily the wealth of cults and rituals, which were not only historically important, but also, mostly in modified form, still play a role today. The students will be given an insight into a complex world that offers interesting cultural manifestations from a cultural and social anthropological perspective.

Assessment and permitted materials

In the seminar, individual cults and rituals are first presented as examples - and then further examples are offered to the students so that they can then try to find out more about them themselves in the form of a small research project. A short presentation of the acquired knowledge in the seminar as well as the discussion of individual aspects in the plenum are the basis for the later written elaboration as a seminar paper. The lecturer accompanies the short research, the presentation as well as the written elaboration. Research, presentation and written seminar paper together result in the grade for this seminar.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Research, presentation, participation in the seminar as well as the written seminar paper together result in the grade for this seminar. Only all four points together allow for a grade.

Examination topics

Research, presentation, participation in the seminar as well as the written seminar paper together result in the grade for this seminar. Only all four points together allow for a grade. Literature will be discussed in the seminar, a literature list will be handed out. The literature listed below is a suggestion for reading into the region and the subject matter.

Reading list

Alkire, William H.: An Introduction to the Peoples and Cultures of Micronesia. Menlo Park 1977: Cummings Publishing Company.
Allen, Michael: Male Cults and Secret Initiations in Melanesia. Melbourne 1967: Melbourne University Press.
Bateson, Gregory: Naven; The culture of the Iatmul people of New Guinea as revelaed through a study of the „naven“ ceremonial. Stanford 1958: Stanford University Press.
Chowning, Ann: An Introduction to the Peoples and Cultures of Melanesia. Menlo Park/Reading 1977: Cummings Publishing Company.
Cochrane, Glynn: Big Men and Cargo Cults. Oxford 1970: Clarendon Press.
Cranstone, B. A. L.: Melanesia, A Short Ethnography. London 1961: British Museum.
Godelier, Maurice/ Strathern, Marilyn (eds): Big Men & Great Men; Personifications of power in Melanesia. Cambridge/Paris 1991: Cambridge University Press/Editions de la Maison des Sciences de l’Homme.
Langness, L. L./ Weschler, John C. (eds.): Melanesia; Readings on a Culture Area. Scranton/London/Toronto 1971: Chandler Publ. Company.
Lindstrom, Lamont/ White, Geoffrey M. (eds.): Culture, Kastom, Tradition; Developing Cultural Policy in Melanesia. Suva 1994: Institute of Pacific Studies/University of the South Pacific.
Spriggs, Matthew: The Island Melanesians. Series The Peoples of South-East Asia and The Pacific Oxford 1997: Blackwell.
Van Trease, Howard (ed.): Melanesian Politics; Stael blong Vanuatu. Canterbury/Suva 1995: Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, Institute of Pacific Studies/University of the South Pacific.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 03.10.2023 10:48