Theoretical Perspectives

This course provides you with a broad understanding of recent theoretical approaches in Social Anthropology. It gives insight into how theoretical concepts and perspectives are produced and operate in the discipline, and how these develop in relation to broader social and intellectual contexts. In this regard, the course considers central concepts and debates in both classical and contemporary anthropological theory. The course moreover challenges you to think through the connections between basic anthropological theory and your own project, and it is expected that you begin the work of selecting literature that regards the empirical phenomenon you plan to study and that employs different disciplinary perspectives, theories, and concepts.

When you have completed this course, you will have the following learning outcomes defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

• You have further developed your knowledge of recent and ongoing theoretical debates within the subject.

• You have further developed knowledge of concepts, models and methods of analysis within the subject, and of how your own master's project may relate to these.

• You have in-depth knowledge of social and cultural variation and complexity

Skills:

• You can critically assess and choose between theoretical perspectives, analytical models and concepts in studies of specific empirical phenomena.

• You are able to use different perspectives, models and concepts with regard to the development of your own research project.

General Skills:

• You are able to develop academic arguments and texts, and to present these orally.

• You can handle different theoretical perspectives in connection with varied empirical material.

Lectures and seminars. Lectures will normally be given in Norwegian and English.