Ateneo - UPO

Introduction to cultural anthropology and environmental anthropology

A. GHOSH, 2021, The Nutmeg’s Curse. Parables for a Planet in Crisis, John Murray Publishers, London. Only chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, 16, 18.
A. L. TSING, 2015, The Mushroom at the End of the World. On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins, Princeton University Press, Princeton and Oxford. Only chapters: Prologue, 1, 3, 11, 14.
R. W. KIMMERER, 2013, Braiding Sweetgrass. Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and Teachings of Plants, Penguin Random House UK. Only chapters: Preface, Skywoman Falling, The Council of Pecans, The Gift of Strawberries, Learning the Grammar of Animacy, Allegiance to Gratitude, Epiphany in the Beans, The Three Sisters, Mishkos Kenomagwen: the Teachings of the Grass, Maple Nation: a Citizenship Guide, In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place, Windigo Footprints.

The slides and the book chapters indicated will be provided in the DIR area of the course (www.dir.uniupo.it). All the corresponding books will also be available in the library, in electronic and/or paper format.

• Objectives -to acquire knowledge of basic notions of cultural anthropology; to acquire the capacity of critical thinking necessary to deconstruct the stereotypes related to the concepts of nature and culture; to understand the plurality of worldviews; to understand and deepen the relationship between the anthropological dimension, ecological problems and the production and consumption of food • Objectives -ability to apply acquired knowledge and understanding; ability to critically read texts and documents. • Objectives -expression of judgments: to acquire the ability to analyze and make judgments on the notions learned and to compare different ethnographic cases. • Objectives -communication skills: knowing how to communicate orally or in a short written paper on the issues addressed with appropriate terminology. • Objectives -ability to study: to be able to conduct, on the basis of the knowledge acquired in the module, bibliographical insights. Know how to combine theoretical and methodological concepts with ethno-anthropological observation.

There are no prerequisites: the course itself will provide basic and advanced knowledge.

The course includes frontal lessons, for a total of 24 hours. The lessons in class will be conducted with the help of Power Point slides, audiovisual materials and various methods of active teaching.
The teaching will be divided into two parts: 1. a general introduction to cultural anthropology and the anthropological concept of culture; 2. a second part of environmental anthropology with a specific focus on the production, distribution and consumption of food. Several case studies will be deepened and discussed in class.
All students are invited to enroll in the DIR area of the course (www.dir.uniupo.it) where the teaching materials and possible notices will be available.

Email of the teacher: annalisa.dorsi@uniupo.it
Office: Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, ground floor of Palazzo Tartara, via Galileo Ferraris n. 109, Vercelli.
Reception: Friday 9.30-10.30, by appointment.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.   

Oral exam.

The course is structured in the following way.
History of the concept of culture. Anthropological and ethological definition of culture. Critical use of the concept of culture. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Definition of some key concepts: ethnography, holism, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphism, reification, cultural relativism, ethnocentrism, racism.
Relation between food and culture.
Critical analysis of the nature/culture dichotomy. Sociocultural dimensions of the Anthropocene. Native practices and ecology. Koinocene: towards a new sustainable culture of relationships.
Introduction to the indicated readings on food and culture: Ghosh, Kimmerer, Tsing, Sheldrake, Posnett.
The gender dimension will be analyzed.

Anthropological part: demonstrate a good understanding and know how to apply some key concepts and methodologies of cultural anthropology; develop a critical analysis of the nature/culture dichotomy; develop a good capacity for critical analysis of food in a sociocultural perspective; demonstrate a good understanding the texts indicated in the bibliography as study materials.