Anthropology

Key Concepts in Anthropology

Module code: L6067
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you’ll gain an overview of the big questions that anthropologists research, and the different theoretical paradigms and concepts that have been developed or adopted. You’ll begin with examining the concepts of society and culture. You’ll then look at characteristics and assumptions of:

  • British structural functionalism
  • methodological individualism and agency
  • French structuralism
  • British structuralism
  • Marxism ideology and hegemony
  • poststructuralism
  • discourse and power/knowledge
  • poststructuralism
  • 'practice' and phenomenology.

Module learning outcomes

  • A basic grasp of the development of Social Anthropology in the twentieth century
  • A constructively critical approach to key terms of social analysis, especially society, culture, individual
  • A basic grasp of some of the major paradigms of anthropological thought, including functionalism, structuralism, marxism
  • Practice in using key concepts in discussion and writing