ANTH 3037 - Bodies and Society: Contemporary Anthropology

We experience the world in and through our bodies. In this course on Body and Society, we critically engage the idea that bodies are shaped by both individuals and socio-cultural worlds. Through this focus on bodies, the course aims to develop an understanding of core concepts and aspects associated with the practice of anthropology, both ethnographic and theoretical. You will be given an overview of the history and practice of ethnography, gaining an understanding of the joys and challenges of anthropological writing. You will develop your knowledge of key theorists and perspectives on the body including phenomenology, the embodied nature of sensorial experience (touch, smell, sight, hearing, taste) and body politics. By conducting practical in-class and independent exercises, you will learn how anthropologists record and represent people's practices, values, and everyday lives. You will write a short text based on your own data collection and will learn how to closely read and analyse journal articles and full-length scholarly publications. To showcase these skills, you will undertake research on a topic of interest related to bodies and society that you identify for exploration in the final essay. By the end of the semester, you will understand contemporary trends and debates in Anthropology, in particular the complex relationships between bodies, culture and society. This course will hone your ability to examine and interpret the rich sensory worlds of people in diverse cultural settings.