CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY II

Course objectives

The course aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the methodological, critical and applicable aspects of the Discipline; it proposes geographical areas and sectorial perspectives in which related projects are activated; it shows the variability of fields of interest; it enables the student to master the specific topics in order to use them and apply them in other fields of study while using the correct specific language. With the acquired knowledge the student will be able to develop autonomous ability of connections with other disciplines in the various historical epochs and cultural contexts.

Channel 1
ALESSANDRO LUPO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
Identity and ethnicity. The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge about the theme of identity (individual and collective) as it is differently defined and recognized among human societies. Through an overview of the studies on the topic and the presentation of some ethnographic examples, we will examine: the inspiring principles of the different identity dynamics (concerning personhood, gender, kinship, "race", territory, ethnic groups, nations); the institutions created on the basis of these principles, the values, the symbols and the rhetorics concerning discourses on identity; the practices (social, ritual, economic, political) concretely produced by the logic of identity in contemporary societies.
Prerequisites
Good skills in critically understanding written academic texts. Basic historical and geographical knowledge
Books
1) Fabietti, Ugo 2013 (1995) L’identità etnica. Storia e critica di un concetto equivoco. Roma: Carocci. 2) Lupo, Alessandro (a cura di) 2019 Protagonisti e dinamiche dell’identità etnica in Messico. Roma: CISU. 3) One book of your choice from the following: - Allovio, Stefano 2010 Pigmei, europei e altri selvaggi. Roma-Bari: Laterza. - Amselle, Jean-Loup 1999 (1990) Logiche meticce. Antropologia dell’identità in Africa e altrove. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. - Bettini, Maurizio 2016 Radici. Tradizione, identità, memoria. Bologna: Il Mulino. - Remotti, Francesco 2010 L’ossessione identitaria. Roma-Bari: Laterza. - Remotti, Francesco (a cura di) 2021 Sull’identità. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
Frequency
Attendance, although not mandatory, is strongly recommended. The program does not change for non-attending students.
Exam mode
The exam will consist of a written test based on open questions, both compulsory and to be chosen by the student. The assessment will go from 18 to 30 with honors
Lesson mode
Frontal lessons with the use of multimedia equipment
  • Lesson code1055665
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseHistory, Anthropology, Religions
  • CurriculumTeorie e pratiche dell'antropologia
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDM-DEA/01
  • CFU6