Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2017-2018 (archived)

Module ANTH44415: Body, Politics and Experience

Department: Anthropology

ANTH44415: Body, Politics and Experience

Type Open Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2017/18 Module Cap

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To examine key theoretical positions and debates in historical and contemporary medical anthropology in relation to health, illness and healing.
  • Enable students to develop the analytical skills to recognise and critique different theories, and apply them within their own professional practice.

Content

  • This module considers key concepts and theoretical debates in social and medical anthropology. More recent theoretical debates have taken into account rapid social and medical changes (such as biotechnology, globalisation, urbanisation, medical tourism and commodification of health, tissues and body parts) that have posed new challenges to social and medical anthropology, particularly around ideas of the body, personhood and social relatedness. Ethnographic examples highlight the continuities and conflicts between local and global contexts of violence, health care, and the interface of traditional beliefs with biotechnology/medicine. In line with Nancy Schepher-Hughes’ definition of ‘critically applied medical anthropology’, this module does not separate anthropological theory from practice, but promotes theoretical frameworks as central devices to critique and inform the process involved in the experience and management of crises, health and illness. Assessment is by seminar presentation and Essay.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Have an advanced knowledge of the defining key theoretical debates in social and medical anthropology.
  • Articulate why theoretical frames are relevant for an understanding of the body, health and illness.
  • Ability to apply theoretical insights to ethnographic texts and contexts, and wider domains of health care policy and practice.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • An ability to read and critically evaluate the works of anthropologists and situate them in terms of theoretical positions.
  • Competency to conduct in-depth and theoretically informed analysis of a particular issue relating to health and health care practices.
  • Engage anthropological arguments in relation to the fields of medicine and international health.
Key Skills:
  • Prepare and present scholarly work for seminars and assessment.
  • Independent and critical reading of ethnographies.
  • Ability to integrate and apply new knowledge and skills in professional practice.

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

  • Lectures/seminars
  • Presentations
  • Essay

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 5 fortnightly 2 hour 10
Seminars 4 fortnightly 1 hour 4
Preparation and Reading 136
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Presentation Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Seminar Presentation Slides 100%
Component: Essay Component Weighting: 80%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 2500 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

500 word plan for Essay


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