Module ANTH2041: KINSHIP

Department: Anthropology

ANTH2041: KINSHIP

Prerequisites

• People and Cultures (ANTH1061) or (for 2014-15 only Ways of Life (HUSS1171).

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To provide an in-depth and broad knowledge of kinship and its importance to human sociality.
• To cover key theories of kinship in social anthropology, supported by ethnographic case studies.
• To cover biological and psychological approaches to kinship that offer both complimentary and conflicting perspectives to social anthropology.

Content

• Kinship and the social structure of human communities.
• Basic theoretical models and debates ranging from segmentary lineage theory to current studies in kinship and relatedness
• Genealogies and pedigrees.
• Marriage alliances and the problem of incest avoidance
• Biological aspects of kinship: elements of human genetics, mating and the transmission of genetic disorders; non-standard family forms, new reproductive technologies.
• Kinship and human social adaptation (the socio-ecological perspective).
• Symbolic anthropology and processual theories of kinship.
• Cognitive anthropological approaches to relatedness.

Learning Outcomes

• Factual Material: Understand the unique role of kinship in human societies, and the various ways it has been theorised by anthropologists.
• Familiarity with a range of representative ethnographic cases (present and past, Western and non-Western).
• Understand the distinction between genetic/biological kinship and social kinship.
• Learn about how kinship has provided a point of contact and conflict between social and biological anthropology.
• Understand how to relate their personal experience of kinship to the broader field of anthropological knowledge.

• Be able to construct and study elementary genealogies as well as offer critical insights on this method.
• Take notes during lectures and videos, and synthesise these with background reading and practical exercises in the construction of project reports and written examinations.
• Have an understanding of kin terms and incest prohibitions and be able to critically engage with concepts such as 'kinship' and 'incest'.
• Be able to analyse the emotional, psychological and symbolic foundations that notions of relatedness are built on.
• Seminars imply a higher degree of student involvement and teach subject-specific and generic skills.

• Gather data, record them fully and accurately, and use them in a sound, balanced analysis, in written reports
• Recognise issues of debate and address them through case studies.
• Apply IT research techniques successfully to specific/defined problems.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• The module consists of 21 lectures, 4 seminars, 2 practicals and 4 video sessions, accompanied by background reading.
• The formal components of the module use a range of teaching modes and methods, within an integrated framework to contribute to the intended learning outcomes.
• The lectures, seminars, videos and practicals are carefully integrated.
• Audio-visual aids (videos, slides, summaries and diagrams on overhead projection sheets etc.) are used where appropriate.
• The informal components of the module utilise a variety of methods, including posting course documents and information on DUO, seminar presentations and associated oral discussions.
• Lectures will cover topics relevant for providing students with an understanding of theories currently available for the study of kinship.
• Lectures provide a traditional method of communicating not only fact but clear understandings of process and the relationship between issues.
• They are used for the primary delivery of material because they allow clear transmission of information in an active learning environment where students can question and seek clarification.
• Seminars provide an opportunity for students to discuss a series of topics and to make oral presentations.
• Difficult, sensitive and unresolved issues can all be approached successfully through discussion in seminars.
• Seminars will cover topics relevant to the content of the module.
• For anthropology students this medium cannot simply be replaced by texts or websites, though both are important adjuncts.
• The video sessions will show students documentaries whose content complements material covered in the lectures and reading list.
• The video sessions provide students an opportunity to critically engage with another medium, which they will be expected to integrate with other course materials in the summative assignment.
• A formative essay of 1,000 words will test skills of understanding, analysis, information collection and presentation.
• The summative written essay of 2,000 words will test these same skills, but will also require students to integrate material from the practicals and video sessions with seminars, lectures and reading material.
• The final written exam (2 hours) will test assimilated knowledge and understanding and the ability to write succinctly and analytically at short notice.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Feedback on a 1000 word essay and a 500 word essay plan

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University