Anthropology

Worlds and Selves

Module code: 003AN
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Portfolio

On this module, you’ll be introduced to interdisciplinary anthropological perspectives around subjectivity and ‘being-in-the-world.’ This will involve:

• anthropological engagements with gender and queer theories
• epistemologies of race and ethnicity
• existential and psychosocial perspectives.

Through this, you’ll explore literature that considers people’s senses of self and their senses of the world around them. The module aims to open up questions around the nature of ‘being’ in the world. You’ll do this through exploring questions about relations between people, places and other entities, such as animals, organic matter and ‘things’. You’ll consider that when it comes to thinking about social worlds and life experience, anthropology may offer a unique basis for:

• reflexive analysis
• conceptual critique
• contextually grounded practice
• social justice.

A key aim of the module is to develop practical tools for reflexive understanding as a method for ethnographic insight. 

Module learning outcomes

• Evidence understanding of interdisciplinary perspectives as relevant to anthropological approaches to subjectivity.
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of ‘worlding’ and psych-social theories, and their relationship with anthropological approaches to the self and identity.
• Evaluate anthropological theorisations of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.
• Use reflexive writing as a mode of ethnographic engagement.