Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology

"Bodies in Figures: Symbolic Constructions of Gender Identity in the Ancient World". The course intends to explore the various modes of representation of the female body, starting from some mythical exemplary figures of the ancient world, in which the human body in general is organized as a reference paradigm of the relationship between nature and culture, and the female body in particular is configured as an inexhaustible source of metaphorical proliferation. In this perspective, some theoretical insights on symbolic persistence and on transitions of mythical-ritualistic models borrowed from Mediterranean cultures in contemporary culture, will be proposed.

Basic knowledge of the institutions and the history of anthropological studies.

1. L. Faranda, Viaggi di ritorno. Itinerari antropologici nella Grecia antica, Roma, Armando 2009 2. L. Faranda Peripezie di una santa : il culto di Sayyida 'Ā'isha al Mannūbiyya nella Tunisi contemporanea Two texts to choose from in a shortlist that will be indicated at the beginning of the course.

Attendance is not required.

Evaluation takes place with an oral examination; the quality and completeness of learning, the autonomy of judgment and reasoning, the acquisition and domination of a specific language, the active participation are taken into consideration. Subject of evaluation will also be a written report, in the ways and times indicated in the "Development methods" (optional choice). To obtain a minimum evaluation (18/30) the student must demonstrate a knowledge of the topics of monographic books in program with an acceptable expositive property. For the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), in addition to excellent knowledge of the topics in the program, the student must demonstrate reasoning autonomy and full mastery of an appropriate language.

The course take place with classroom lessons (lectures). Attending students may submit (optional) a brief written paper (5.000/10.000 characters included spaces) or to participate in a written exoneration on topics covered in the lessons (free option) on topics covered in class, which will be evaluated during the examination. Non-attending students must complete the study of the indicated bibliography. Attendance is not required.