Universität Wien

240517 SE The Anthropology of Tibet (P3) (2023S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
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 for courses with continuous assessment.
Moodle

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. 20 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

If possible, the course is to be conducted in presence. Due to the respective applicable distance regulations and other measures, adjustments may be made.

  • Monday 06.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 20.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 27.03. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 17.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 24.04. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 08.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 15.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 22.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 05.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 12.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 19.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 26.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This MA seminar offers a serious introduction into the history, society, culture, religion, and politics of Tibet, as well as a solid overview of the most important anthropological (and related) literature on this area. The first units will also deal with both historical and contemporary Austrian-based Tibet research. This seminar's central focus lies on the reading and discussion of a representative selection of interdisciplinary texts on Tibet, supplemented by lectures in the first few units. While the language of the seminar (discussions, lectures) is generally German, it may be changed to English if a majority prefers that. However, all readings are in English, and English-speakers with passive German skills are welcome.

This course aims to give students:
1) solid knowledge and understanding of Tibetan society, politics, and history
2) a good overview of anthropological and interdisciplinary research on Tibet
3) the ability to discuss or further pursue Tibet-related topics in an independent, critical, and competent manner.

Assessment and permitted materials

This seminar is reading-intensive and is meant mainly for MA students who are interested in a serious scholarly engagement with Tibet. Weekly readings (exclusively in English) and their discussion (in either German or English) are an absolute requirement for participation, as well as regular short presentations. A short final seminar paper (10 pages) will be due until the end of the semester.
All notes, required and optional texts of the reading list, as well as supplementary scholarly literature (to be discussed with the convenor) may (and should) be used to prepare the presentations and the paper.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

A 10-page (max) seminar paper on one of several predefined topics needs to be handed in until the last unit.
Besides a positively graded seminar paper, a second minimum requirement is at least 64% presence.
Grades are weighted as follows: course participation 25%, weekly presentations 25%, seminar paper 50%.
Grading key for seminar paper and short presentations:
1 (excellent): very good engagement with the topic through critical reading, a clear analytical understanding and synthesis of the texts, and the development of your own argument
2: good engagement with the topic through a critical analytic understanding and synthesis of the texts
3: sufficient engagement with the topic through an adequate summary and understanding of the texts
4: engagement with the topic through a partially insufficient understanding of the texts
5 (fail): failure to engage with the topic, texts were not sufficiently read or understood, gross scientific misconduct, unexcused missing of a presentation, failure to hand in the seminar paper
Note: the linguistic quality of the seminar paper (spelling, grammar, expression) will be considered.

Examination topics

Both the weekly presentations and the seminar paper require a critical understanding of, and engagement with, the scholarly literature (from the list) on the given topic. Weekly presentations only deal with the topic (and readings) of the week, while a broader synthetic understanding of scholarship on Tibet is expected for the seminar paper.

Reading list

Required readings (minor changes are possible)

To buy (available at reasonable cost through online shops):
Kapstein, M. (2006) The Tibetans. Blackwell
Goldstein, M. (1997) The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama. University of California Press

PDFs on Moodle:
Shakya, T. (1994) Introduction: The Development of Modern Tibetan Studies. In: R. Barnett (ed.) Resistance and Reform in Tibet. Bloomington: University of Indiana Press, pp. 1-14
Tsering Topgyal (2012) The Securitization of Tibetan Buddhism in Communist China. Politics and Religion in Contemporary China 6(2)
Lopez, D. (1998) Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Chicago University Press [Introduction]
Dreyfus, G. (1994) Cherished Memories, Cherished Communities: Proto-nationalism in Tibet. In: P. Kvaerne (ed.) Tibetan Studies: Proceedings of the 6th International Seminar of the IATS. Oslo: 205-218.
Kolås, A. (1996) Tibetan Nationalism: The Politics of Religion. Journal of Peace Research 33(1): 51-66.
Lopez, D. (1998) Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. University of Chicago Press [Kapitel 7]
Dreyfus, G. (2005) Are We Prisoners of Shangrila? Orientalism, Nationalism, and the Study of Tibet. Journal of the IATS 1:1-21
McConnell, F. (2009) Democracy-in-Exile: The ‘Uniqueness’ and Limitations of Exile Tibetan Democracy. Sociological Bulletin 58(1): 115-144
Barnett, R. (2001) “Violated Specialness”: Western Political Representations of Tibet. In Dodin, T. & H. Räther (eds.) Imagining Tibet: Perceptions, Projections and Fantasies. Wisdom Publications
Huber, T. (2001) Shangri-la in Exile: Representations of Tibetan Identity and Transnational Culture. In Dodin, T. & H. Räther (eds.) Imagining Tibet: Perceptions, Projections and Fantasies. Wisdom Publications
Yeh, E. (2013) Taming Tibet: Landscape Transformation and the Gift of Chinese Development. Cornell University Press [Introduction, Kapitel 1, Conclusion, Epilogue]
Bauer, K. (2014) High Frontiers: Dolpo Revisited. Tibet Journal
Dollfus, P. (2012) Transformation Processes in Nomadic Pastoralism in Ladakh. Himalaya
Gyatso, J. & H. Havnevik (2005) Introduction. In: Gyatso & Havnevik (eds) Women in Tibet. Delhi: Foundation Books, pp. 1-25
Mackley, C. (2003) Gendered Boundaries in Motion: Space and Identity on the Sino-Tibetan Frontier. American Ethnologist 30(4): 597-619
Fjeld, J. & Hofer, T. (2010-11) Women and Gender in Tibetan Medicine. Asian Medicine 6: 175-216
Mills, M. (n.d.) Re-Assessing Tibetan Nationalism: Political Protest and the Sacral State in Modern Tibet.
Barnett, R. (2009) The Tibet Protests of Spring, 2008: Conflict between the Nation and the State. China Perspectives 2009(3)
Shakya, T. (2012) Self-Immolation: the Changing Language of Protest in Tibet. Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines 25: 19-39

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 21.04.2023 15:27