Ateneo - UPO

The contents of the module will be focused to presenting the basic concepts of cultural anthropology, with particular attention to aspects relating to the medical, health and disease fields. Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of the “family” and "body" as a cultural construction (starting in particular from the concepts of the history of the body and anthropopoiesis, etc.). Some specific cases of disease treatment typical of the Italian popular tradition will be analyzed, starting from the results of some classics books of anthropology, such as eg. «La terra del rimorso. Contributo a una storia religiosa del Sud» by Ernesto de Martino (1961) and «L’arco di rovo. Impotenza e aggressività in due rituali del sud» by Alfonso Maria Di Nola (1983).

1) Marco AIME, Il primo libro di antropologia, Torino, Einaudi, 2008.
2) The slides projected during the course and available in the DIR area.

Introduce students to the critical knowledge of some basic concepts of cultural anthropology and, more specifically, of medical anthropology. To develop the ability to interpret and critically position some traits of anthropological culture. Knowing how to communicate the acquired knowledge critically using an appropriate terminology.

Knowledge of the Italian language

Lectures with the help of slides and ethnographic videos.

Students are invited to register themselves on the DIR website (www.dir.uniupo.it).

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.

The exam is a electronic test (multiple-choice questions).

- Basic concepts of cultural anthropology. - Family and kinship, with particular attention to the gender dimension; - The body as a cultural construction. - The anthropopoiesis. - The treatment of the disease in the popular culture. INTEGRATION OF THE GENDER DIMENSION: The course will also explore in depth the gender dimension using several examples drawn from ethnographic observation, This will encompass both the cultural construction of the body and the role of women within the processes of building family models.

The student must acquire the skills of:
a. understands some basic concepts of cultural anthropology and, in particular, of medical anthropology;
b. analyze and formulate judgments on the concepts learned;
c. communicate the acquired knowledge using an appropriate terminology.