Course overview
Issues of what it is to be a thinking, feeling, knowing person are central to anthropology. Anthropology has, throughout its history, provided a unique and powerful focus on the mind, body and person in their total social and cultural context. This course explores different disciplinary perspectives on emotion, mind and person, while highlighting the distinctive methodological and theoretical tasks of anthropological explanation. Specific topics covered will include cross-cultural understandings of emotion, grief and mental illness; debates on the role of language in perception; and altered states of consciousness such as dreaming, trance and possession. The course culminates in an exploration of anthropological perspectives on what it is to be a person, using ethnographic and cross-cultural comparisons to reflect upon individuality, agency and power.
Course learning outcomes
- Display an understanding of key concepts in the anthropological study of mind, consciousness, emotion and personhood
- Evidence familiarity with anthropological literature, analytic frameworks and research methods in relation to these topics
- Develop a critical understanding of contemporary psychological and psychiatric knowledge and practice as cultural and contextual phenomena
- Demonstrate an ability to think, discuss and write critically and analytically about these topics
- Deeply understand and engage in contemporary and balanced debates about mind, emotions and persons
- Display the skills to work collaboratively as well as individually in a learning and research environment
- Comprehend and respond ethically to the diversity of social and cultural contexts and practices
- Demonstrate a deep ability to access & use relevant digital technologies to research a relevant topic
- Understand how debates about concepts of mind, emotions and persons relate to ourselves and our society