Universität Wien

240526 SE Orientalism, Balkanism, Occidentalism (P4) (2015W)

Perspectives on Temporality and Constructing the "Other"

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Participation at first session is obligatory!
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. 40 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 05.10. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 12.10. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 16.11. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 23.11. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 30.11. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Monday 14.12. 15:15 - 18:30 Übungsraum (A414) NIG 4. Stock
  • Tuesday 15.12. 15:00 - 18:15 Seminarraum D, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The discourses of Orientalism and Balkanism originally grounded in travelogues and art, but also social science and politics figure as hegemonic perception patterns of the 'other' up to the present. Moreover, as explored in the seminal work of Edward Said (1995 [1978]) and Maria Todorova (2009), the self-image of the 'West'/the 'Occident' is crucially based on the construction of the 'Orient', respectively the 'Balkans'. The analysis of occidental discourses as for example conducted by anthropologists (Carrier 2003) also comprise a crucial part of the course.
Particularly after the break-out of violent conflicts in the Balkans, the attacks of 9/11, as well as in the course of EU-Enlargement (Turkey, Eastern Enlargement) and the aggravation of the migration policies (xenophobia, debates of 'honour killings', Islamophobia etc.), the pronounced strength of orientalist, balkanist, and occidentalist patterns of thought (and hence the necessity of their critical assessment by social sciences) has become more than apparent.
Through close readings of key-texts from a transdisciplinary perspective the aim of the course is to offer the framework for a systematic reassessment of crucial anthropological notions such as: the construction of the 'other', forms of identity grammars, boundary-making, postcolonialism, essentialisation, exotisation etc.

Assessment and permitted materials

Thematic Inputs, Close Reading/Presentations, Discussion, empirical research

Information on grading: Presentations (30%), final paper (70%)

Minimum requirement for a positiv grading:
Compulsory attendance (one unit/3h absence is permitted) & presentation

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Said, Edward (1995 [1978]). Orientalism. Penguin Books. (Introduction)
Todorova, Maria (2009): Imagining the Balkans (updated edition). Oxford University Press. (Introduction)
Baumann, Gerd (2004): Grammars of Identity/Alterity. A structural Approach, in: Baumann, Gerd and Andre Gingrich (eds.), Grammars of Identity/Alterity. A structural Approach. Berghan: 18-53.
Carrier, James (ed.) (2003): Occidentalism. Images of the West. Oxford University Press. (Introduction, 1-33)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:40