成人大片

ANTH 3037 - Bodies and Society: Contemporary Anthropology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2024

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.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ANTH 3037
    Course Bodies and Society: Contemporary Anthropology
    Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible ANTH 3100, ANTH 3036
    Assumed Knowledge At least 15 units of Anthropology courses
    Assessment Ethnographic field notes and writing (2000 words), Book analysis (2000 words), Research essay (4500-5000 words)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Georgina Drew

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 To have an in-depth study of the discipline of anthropology as a basis for an undergraduate major and continuation into honours and postgraduate study.
    2 To understand the ethnographic process, data collection and writing styles of ethnography.
    3 To critically understand the theoretical perspectives that currently dominate the anthropology of the body and its relationship to society.
    4 To engage critically with ethnographic monographs as a key mode of producing anthropological knowledge.
    5 To have the ability to engage in anthropological conceptual and thematic discussions in small groups. 
    6 To have developed he skills in ethnographic practice and the creation of anthropological knowledge. 
    7 To understand the value and use of digital technologies and forms of communication in anthropological research. 
    8 To understand the ethical principles in contemporary anthropology and ethnogaphy, as well as ethical dilemmas in the past. 
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2,3,4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    2,6

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    8

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    8

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    7

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    5,8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The course uses MyUni tools and resources. The course readings will be made available on MyUni and the recorded lectures will be posted there using Echo360 (or other MyUni tools). All course material will be posted early in the semester with the exception of the lecture power points and recordings, which are to be released over the semester. MyUni’s Final Grade Centre will also be employed so that students can easily access their course performance indicators.
    Online Learning
    All resources will be centred in the MyUni/Canvas modules, with relevant external links provided therein. 
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is taught in a 3-hour block to provide for a real-time interactive lecture followed by a series of class discussions, workshops, and small group discovery experiences. The block format helps to deepen knowledge of the key content covered and to cultivate the skills needed to complete the course assessments.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    This course is worth 6 units and, as per Learning and Teaching guidelines, involves an expanded workload relative to a 3-unit course.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    1 x 3-hour interactive seminar per week (or equivalent) = 36 hours per semester

    6 hours reading per week = 72 hours per semester
    6 hours research per week = 72 hours per semester
    6 hours (on average) of assignment preparation per week = 72 hours per semester
    4 hours of supplemental video content per week = 48 hours per semester
    12 hours of added research time for the final assignment = 12 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    The following is a loose guide of key thematic engagements, the specifics of which may evolve by the start of the course:

    Week 1: Introduction: Anthropological Understandings of the Body in/of Society

    Week 2: Ethnographic Fieldwork and the Body

    Week 3: Embodied Ethnographic Writing and the Body in Ethnographic Writing

    Week 4: No Seminars Due to Week 4 Assignment Deadline

    Week 5: Phenomenology: Embodiment and Experience

    Week 6: Theories of Practice: Habitus and the Social Body's 'Durable Dispositions'

    Week 7: Power, Knowledge and the Body

    Week 8: Reading & Writing Workshop

    Week 9: No Seminars (Usually a Public Holiday)

    Week 10: Multispecies Anthropology: Extending the Social Body Beyond the Human

    Week 11: Bodies, Society, and Applied Anthropology  

    Week 12: No Seminars (but content provided on Peformance/Creative Ethnography and the Body)
    Specific Course Requirements
    In addition to reading and writing activities, students are required to do a participant witnessing exercise where they are assigned (or self-assigned) a location to observe for a period of one hour. Students must take notes about this experience and they are restricted to observation alone—no interviews are allowed. Students are then expected to submit a written assignment that is ethnographic in tone and which conveys issues of embodiment (building on course learnings) and the cultural worlds of value evident in the contexts observed.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment task                           Percentage of assessment for grading purposes                       Word Count & Due Date

    Course Participation                                        10%                                                                   Ongoing but due Friday of Week 12
    Ethnographic Writing & Fieldnotes                 25%                                                                    2000 & 500, due Friday of Week 4
    Book Analysis                                                   20%                                                                         2000, due Friday of Week 8
    Research Essay                                                45%                                                                         3500, due Friday of Week 12
    Assessment Related Requirements
    • Examinations will not form part of the assesment for this course. 
    • There are no hurdle requirements for this course (no assessments that must be completed with a minimum grade in order to pass)
    • There are no group assignments for this course. 
    • Peer assessment will not be used in this course.
    • Extensive information about the individual requirements for all assessment tasks will be provided on MyUni.
    • Late penalties are calculated at minus 2 points per day (including weekends)—and all assigments are out of 100 points.
    Assessment Detail
    The course offers a mix of interactive lectures and seminar activities in a 3-hour block. It meets for a selection of seminars over the semester while desginating some seminars for self-guided study and research (common to a 6-unit course). 

    Assignments are typically spread across Weeks 4, 8, and 12. 

    Course Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in seminars through engagement, questions, readings and discussion.

    Ethnographic Writing and Fieldnotes: students have an opportunity to observe a real life setting (or an online world or virtual platform) and take 'fieldnotes' about what they observe in that cultural world (typically based on 30-60 minutes of observation). Students then write an essay that explores what was anthropologically significant about embodiment in that cultural world. 

    Book Analysis: students read a self-selected book published by an anthropologist (ideally a book published in the last 10-20 years). The essay based on this book explains what is empirically and conceptually significant about the book. Students are allowed to choose the book they want to read, based on their interests, but a list of suggested books is provided. 

    Research Essay: students write a research essay based on an emerging or cutting edge topic that is pertinent to the topic of the body and or embodiment. The essay topic is selected based on the student's main interests. 

    More information on the assessment criteria is provided in the course information located within the course's MyUni portal.
    Submission
    The submission of all assignments will be via MyUni (and Turnitin).
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through .

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

The 成人大片 is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The 成人大片 therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.