ETHNOGRAPHY

The teaching is part of the fundamental lessons common to all the ACEL graduate course addresses. Key-topics in Ethnography.

Knowledge of the main theoretical options and practical methodology of contemporary ethnography. Knowing how to apply the basic methods of ethnographic research.

Good knowledge in Cultural Anthropology and History of Anthropology.

The construction of ethnographic research. The concept of "field". Theory and practice of "participating observation". Experience and interpretation in anthropology. Field research and interpretative anthropology. The positioning. The field-work diary. Ethnographic writing. Emotions and sensorialism in ethnography. After the first general setting lessons, they will undertake lessons on some specific thematic fields: ethnography of memory, ethnography of objects, etnography of risk.

Two compulsory books:

1) Pennacini C., “La ricerca sul campo in antropologia. Oggetti e metodi”, Roma, Carocci, 2010.

2) Casagrande O., “Il tempo spezzato. Etnografia di una famiglia mapuche fra golpe ed esilio”, Milano, Unicopli, 2015.

Important: Students must always bring the program of the current academic year. Under no circumstances can they bring old past academic programs.

For a better exam result it is strongly recommended to attend lessons. Students who do not attend the lessons must prepare the volume: Geertz C., “Opere e vite. L’antropologo come autore”, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1990.

The exam consists, for all students, in a three-hour written test consisting of four open-ended questions on the topics of the course and textbooks. Evaluation criteria for open-ended questions are: 1. relevance; 2. completeness; 3. language properties; 4. argumentative capacity; 5. specific references to works and authors dealt with during the course and on textbooks.

Lectures with use of power points and readings commented in the classroom.

Italian

The course is compulsory in all Acel study plans and given that it focuses on methodological setting of major field research in anthropology, attendance is strongly recommended. The course is not an alternative but conceptually complementary to the Methodology of Anthropological Research. Although on different themes and lessons, both courses aim to provide complete preparation for fieldwork research.

In order to apply for Master's thesis in Social Anthropology SP, the following requirements are essential:

1. have passed the examination of Social Anthropology SP, with a positive outcome and attending.
2. have passed the examination of Ethnography SP, with a positive outcome and attending.
3. discussion of a short preliminary research project.

Erasmus students are required to speak correctly in Italian. The exam for Erasmus students must be in Italian.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development