Aims

To give students a detailed introduction to the theories of social anthropology. Students will have to be able to articulate and criticise both the general principles of the main currents of thought in ethnology, and the main writers that have made an impact on the history of this subject. They will also be familiarised with the main features of ethnology. The general objective is, therefore, encyclopaedic, synthetic and critical.

Main themes

Mainly, there will be examinations of evolutionism, diffusionism, culturalism, functionalism and structuralism. The main writers to be studied will be Morgan, Frazer, Tylor, Schmidt, Elliot-Smith, Benedict, Mead, Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, Evans-Pritchard and Lévi-Strauss.

Content and teaching methods

The course will be taught through lectures. Each current will be addressed briefly, and sessions will then move on to an examination of some writers, and to a critical evaluation. Participation on the course is essential. Students will have extensive typed course notes that will enable them to follow the course better.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Assessment: An oral or written examination (depending on the number of students).
Support: A syllabus.

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