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    Overview

    Explores how an anthropological analysis of the ‘everyday’ can elucidate the cultural underpinnings that inform, enable and hinder the exercise of power across the globe.

    This paper addresses contemporary issues in culture and politics from an anthropological perspective and in doing so makes a contribution to the development of a public anthropology by fostering the critical skills required to undertake citizen-led anthropological research.

    We explore how political and legal structures are influenced by the cultural environments through which they operate and the manner in which cultural groups and identities are also shaped by the political and legal power to which they are subject. Thus we interrogate concepts such as 'power', 'culture', 'politics' and 'anthropology', and students will pursue a research essay that investigates some of the local meanings attached to these terms in contemporary Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the Pacific or elsewhere in the world, with specific case studies of several such intersections of 'culture' and 'power'. Together we explore the richness of anthropological explanations of these issues in order to better appreciate the points of slippage and friction between 'everyday'; taken for granted practices and the exercise of power across the globe.

    About this paper

    Paper title Cultural Politics
    Subject Anthropology
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $981.75
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Prerequisite
    18 200-level ANTH points or 108 points
    Schedule C
    Arts and Music
    Notes
    May not be credited together with ANTH326 passed in 2008.
    Eligibility
    This paper is suitable for students both with and without strong backgrounds in anthropology.
    Contact

    greg.rawlings@otago.ac.nz

    Teaching staff

    Co-ordinator: Dr Greg Rawlings

    Contributing Lecturer: Dr Christiane Leurquin

    Paper Structure
    100% internally assessed
    Teaching Arrangements

    One 2-hour lecture per week.
    One 1-hour tutorial per week.

    Textbooks

    Required reading is from journal articles and book chapters available electronically through the library using eReserve.

    Course outline

    Will be available on Blackboard at the beginning of the course.

    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Global perspective.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes

    Students who successfully complete this paper will:

    • Extend their capacity for critical thinking through an exploration of the implications (both opportunities and pitfalls) of the culturalisation of ‘power’ and ‘politics’ and the politicisation of ‘cultures’
    • Develop advanced anthropological research skills as they undertake their individual study of a chosen political and cultural dilemma
    • Gain higher level skills in written and verbal communication

    Timetable

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    L1 Wednesday 09:00-10:50 9-13, 15-22

    Tutorial

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    T1 Wednesday 13:00-13:50 10-12, 16-21
    T2 Wednesday 14:00-14:50 10-12, 16-21
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