Universität Wien

240517 SE MM3 Crip Anthropology: Ethnographies of Disability and Ableism (2024S)

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.
The use of AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) for the attainment of partial achievements is only allowed if explicitly requested by the course instructor.
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. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Tuesday 05.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 19.03. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 09.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 16.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 23.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 30.04. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 07.05. 15:00 - 18:15 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The present course intends to shed light on the cultural and social understandings of diverse forms of ableism and disability in various urban and rural settings around the world. This seminar aims at critically analyze social, cultural, political and economic notions and categories of ableism, disability, able-bodiedness in order to underline the socio-cultural complexities and socio-political issues around conditions of physical, sensory, and mental difference. Therefore, one of the course’s goals will be to discuss and examine anthropological notions of ableism, normalcy, able-bodiedness, stigma, social in/exclusion as well as the multiple ways such social, cultural and politico-economic attitudes influence life experiences of people with disability in both the Global North and South.
During the initial seminar sessions, anthropological research and analysis of persons with disabilities, theoretical positions within the academic field named “critical disability studies” and “crip theories” as well as notions of stigma and inclusion will be introduced and discussed. In this regard, the theoretical concepts of ableism, disability and able-bodiedness will be unpacked and explored. In the subsequent four sessions, the focus of the course will be on examining diverse types of bodyminds (e.g., physical, sensory, mental disabilities and chronic conditions) and the ways such conditions/categories are interpreted by various communities and people in several social, geographical and economic contexts, on the one hand, and inform the variegated social lives of people with disability, on the other hand. In the following sessions, the themes related to various bodily differences will address ideas of well-being, eugenics, human rights and humanitarian interventions/actions, the creation of a specific socio-political category of disability, and technological advancements in the attempt to “re-define” conditions of normalcy.
The course will end with a final discussion on new research perspectives and axes within the Disability Anthropology/Anthropology of Disability. Even though there will be no session entirely dedicated to the interconnections between various forms of bodily difference and gender, decolonial/postcolonial racial justice, family relatedness/kinship, and issues related to migratory contexts, these anthropological topics will be transversally considered during daily readings and course sessions.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular participation in class debates/discussion, oral presentation of the results of research on an agreed topic and drafting of a seminar paper of about 3.000 words constitute the course requirements. Course classes can be based on active and regular participation with a final examination/assignment. The seminar is based on class discussions and analysis of reading materials or other sources, written or oral presentations. Students should also note that no late assignments will be accepted. They are therefore asked to complete all written works on time and make sure to see the lecturer in his office hours with any questions or issues that may arise during seminar classes.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

For the grade of this seminar students should try to attend the lessons, take actively part in them and prepare a presentation of about 15 min. plus 10 min. of questions and discussions. Furthermore, the examination modality entails a written assignment of 3000 words. Therefore, 80 % attendance is required. If one session is missed an additional assignment must be completed. The grade is therefore defined as follows: seminar paper 40%, presentation 40%, and contribution to discussion in class 20%. In other words, for the required passing grade of the course, students must:
1. not exceed two absences without an excuse. Exceeding this maximum means that the minimum requirements for a passing grade have not been met:
2. achieve a passing final grade based on their performance.

The points of the individual performances are added together and the total is translated into a grade according to the following grading scale.

Grading scale
91-100 points = 1 (very good)
81-90 points = 2 (good)
71-80 points = 3 (satisfactory)
61-70 points = 4 (sufficient)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0-60 points = 5 (not sufficient)

Examination topics

The seminar is based on presentations, engagements in discussions and works in small groups. Additionally, students will work out individual seminar papers on topics that are related to their presentation or are of their personal interest.

Reading list

- Ginsburg F. and Rapp R. 2020. “Disability/Anthropology: Rethinking the Parameters of the Human: An Introduction to Supplement 21.” Current Anthropology, 61: S21, S4-S15.
- Campbell, F. K. 2009. “The Project of Ableism” and “Internalised Ableism.” In Contours of Ableism. The Production of Disability and Abledness. New York: Palgrave. Pp.: 3-30
- Friedner, M. and A. Kusters. 2020. “Deaf Anthropology.” Annual Review of Anthropology, 49(1): 31-47.
- Açıksöz, S. C. 2020. “Prophetic Debts: Economies of War Disability in Neoliberal Turkey.” Current Anthropology, 61:S21, S76-S86.
- Whyte, S. R. and H. Muyinda. 2007. “Wheels and New Legs: Mobilization in Uganda”. In B. Ingstad, & S. R. Whyte (Eds.), Disability in Local and Global Worlds. (pp. 287-310). Berkeley: University of California Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 28.02.2024 20:06