84272 - Anthropology of Southern Asia (1)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will have acquired the conceptual tools to cope with specific themes of the ethnographic contexts of South Asia; they will be able to evaluate a range of sources critically and organize related printed or digital material; they will have developed the skills necessary to examine issues related to social change and socio-religious plurality.

Course contents

In the first part of the course, the main topics concerning the anthropological study of the area (caste, kinship, gender, religion, ethnic conflict, diaspora) will be illustrated. In the second part of the course, on the basis of the ethnographic research conducted in the area by the lecturer, the Sri Lankan conflict will be examined and the imaginary relating to the division into ‘ethnic’ groups will be deconstructed. Special attention will be paid to the figures of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) fighters and the funeral rituals reserved for them.

Classes will start in March.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Natali Cristiana (ed.), Contesti etnografici dell’Asia meridionale, Milano, CUEM, 2010 (only 4 articles to be chosen from those uploaded online on Virtuale as teaching material).
2. Natali Cristiana, Sabbia sugli dèi. Pratiche commemorative tra le Tigri tamil (Sri Lanka), Bologna, Clueb (NUOVA EDIZIONE), 2020.
   

The programme for non-attending students does not require any additional material because non-attendance implies a greater amount of individual studying.

Teaching methods

Lectures with interactive components and Power Point presentations.

Assessment methods

Students are strongly advised to check the section “avvisi” in the professor’s home page for all information regarding the programme and the exam.

Assessment is carried out through an oral exam, in which students are required to show deep knowledge of the bibliography, critical analytic skills and appropriate linguistic communicative ability.

ORGANISATION OF EXAMS: at the time set for the exam, all students must be online (on Teams, in the room created for the exam; the Teams address will be sent a few days before the exam). Any absences will be checked and a timetable of examinations will be agreed online at the same time.  The examinations will take place in the lecturer's office, and will begin no earlier than the next working day according to the agreed timetable.

The mark will be assigned taking into account the following evaluation levels:

30 cum laude: excellent performance showing soundness of knowledge, rich discursive articulation and appropriate expression;

30: very good performance, complete and appropriate knowledge, well articulated and appropriately expressed;

29-27: good performance, more than satisfactory knowledge, well expressed;

26-24: standard performance, essential knowledge, but not comprehensive and/or not always correctly expressed;

23-21: sufficient performance, general but superficial knowledge, often inappropriately expressed showing confused articulation;

20-18: poor performance, with just acceptable expression and articulation with significant gaps;

<18: insufficient performance, absent or very incomplete knowledge, lack of orientation in the discipline.

Students can consult exams dates and register at the following URL [http://www.unibo.it/Portale/Guida/AlmaEsami.htm].

Teaching tools

Attending students are kindly invited, from February 2025, to subscribe to the following mailing list in order to receive information about possible variations in the lecture timetable and rooms:

cristiana.natali.Antropologia-Asia-meridionale

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD) who require compensatory or dispensatory tools for lessons and/or examinations should first contact the office https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Office hours

See the website of Cristiana Natali