72401 - Anthropology of North and South America (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have acquired skills related to the history of anthropological research on the American continent and will have learned the main elements of the long process that, from the earliest stages of colonial history, has led to the construction of the indigenous identity that has become not only the subject of anthropological analysis, but also the subject of the complex political and cultural dynamics that characterise the American continent today. They will be able to listen, understand and communicate with respect for different cultures and points of view, and to recognise the relationships between the various disciplines necessary for the reading of historical and cultural phenomena. They will be able to express themselves effectively, both orally and in writing, with reference to the relevant bibliography.

Course contents

The Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. Historical and Ethnographic Issues.

The course offers an introduction to the historical and ethnographic study of Indigenous peoples of the Americas. It provides both a broad overview of Indigenous America and the analytical tools required for an ethnographic understanding of Indigenous societies.

The first part of the course examines the processes of European colonization and the so-called "discovery" of the Americas, paying particular attention to major debates concerning Indigenous conceptions of history, time, space, and missionary activity. It also explores the category of "Indigenous peoples", addressing issues related to Indigenous rights, Indigenous feminisms, craftsmanship and Indigenous art. Further topics include the ecology of Indigenous territories, autobiographical narratives, schooling and education, and Indigenous literatures.

The second part of the course focuses on a selection of contemporary ethnographies, with particular emphasis on the Indigenous societies of the South American Lowlands.

Readings/Bibliography

Zelda Alice Franceschi, Etnografia del Chaco argentino. Una storia di vita. Milan: FrancoAngeli, 2023.

Course reader (available on the VIRTUALE e-learning platform), including the following readings:

1) Vanhulst J., & Beling A.E., El Buen vivir: una utopía latinoamericana en el campo discursivo global de la sustentabilidad, Polis. Revista Latinoamericana, 2013, pp. 1-22.

2) Cammarata R., Indigeno a chi? Diritti e discriminazioni allo specchio, Torino, Giappichelli, 2012 (PRIMI 5 CAPITOLI, PP. 151).

3) Bauger S.E., Feminismo interseccional en Argentina: Pluriculturalidad y derechos humanos de las mujeres indígenas, Revista de la Facultad de Derecho de México, Tomo LXXI, Número 281, Septiembre-Diciembre 2021, 415.455.

4) Mancuso A., Il diritto di autodeterminazione dei popoli indigeni, in Archivio Antropologico Mediterraneo, ANNO XVI, 2013, pp. 103-125.

5) Gnerre M., "La natura è soggetto di diritti": intraducibili e riflessività di un proposizione, in Cuturi F. (a cura di), La Natura come soggetto di diritto. Prospettive antropologiche e giuridiche a confronto, Torino, Edit Press, 2020, pp. 61-107.

6) AA.VV., Atti del convegno Internazionale. identità dei popoli indigeni: aspetti giuridici, antropologici a confronto, a cura di L.Palmisano e P.Pastorino, IILA Roma, 2008. ARTICOLI DI MAZZESCHI E PALMISANO.

7) T.Todorov, La scoperta dell'America, Torino, Einaudi, 1984, pp. 1-112.

The reading list is the same for attending and non-attending students.

 

Teaching methods

The course is based primarily on lectures. Audiovisual materials will occasionally be used to complement the lectures and to provide ethnographic examples that illustrate the topics under discussion.

Students are expected to participate actively in class by asking questions, contributing to discussions, and engaging critically with the issues explored during the course.

Assessment methods

Assessment consists of an oral examination, with examination sessions scheduled throughout the academic year (see the section Examination sessions). Students must register for the examination through the ALMAESAMI platform and ensure that all administrative requirements have been fulfilled. To facilitate the organization of the examination schedule and the allocation of individual time slots, registration normally closes 7 days before the examination date.

During the oral examination, students are expected to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the required readings, to present their contents clearly, and to discuss them critically in dialogue with the course lecturer.

Passing the examination requires a careful and complete reading of all the assigned texts. Reliance on summaries, lecture notes, or materials available online does not constitute adequate preparation. Only a close and independent reading of the assigned texts enables students to understand the authors' arguments, appreciate their complexity, and discuss them critically.

The oral examination is not intended as an exercise in rote memorization. Rather, it is conceived as an academic conversation in which students are invited to engage critically with the readings, establish connections among them, and develop their own informed interpretations.

Students should therefore be prepared to answer open-ended questions, propose original interpretations, identify thematic connections across the different readings, compare theoretical and methodological approaches, situate the texts within their historical context, and discuss the relationship between theoretical arguments and specific ethnographic case studies. The ability to formulate critical reflections, raise well-argued questions, or express theoretically and methodologically grounded reservations concerning the assigned readings will be particularly appreciated.

The purpose of the examination is not to reproduce information mechanically or to repeat summaries prepared by others, but rather to demonstrate an attentive, reflective, and independent engagement with the literature.

The examination will be conducted in the language of instruction (Italian).

The oral examination consists of one question on each of the required readings.

An excellent or outstanding grade will be awarded to students who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the required readings, discuss them using appropriate academic language, establish meaningful connections among the different authors, contextualize their theoretical and methodological approaches, and develop independent and critically grounded arguments.

A good or satisfactory grade will be awarded to students who demonstrate an adequate understanding of the required readings, present their main arguments clearly and accurately, and are able to summarize their principal themes using appropriate language.

An unsatisfactory grade will be assigned if students fail to demonstrate the knowledge and competencies specified in the intended learning outcomes of the course, use inappropriate academic language, or are unable to discuss the assigned readings in a critical and informed manner.

In any case, the examination cannot be passed if the candidate fails to answer even one of the questions relating to the required readings.

Students with specific learning needs or disabilities are encouraged to contact the course lecturer at the beginning of the course, or well in advance of the examination, in order to discuss appropriate assessment arrangements.

Examination sessions (Academic Year 2026–2027)

Examination sessions are scheduled during the following months:

• September
• October
• November
• February
• March
• June
  

The dates of each examination session will be published on AlmaEsami at least one or two months in advance. Registration normally closes 7 before the examination date. Depending on the number of registered students, an examination session may continue over the following days.

Up-to-date information on examination dates and registration procedures is available through the AlmaEsami platform:

https://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/servizi-agli-studenti/almaesami

NOTE on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

AI can be a useful tool to support independent study by providing in-depth analysis, summaries, and self-assessment exercises. However, with regard to assessment, the use of AI is prohibited during exams. Any use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

 

Teaching tools

Lectures are supported throughout the course by PowerPoint presentations. Following each class, the presentation slides will be made available to students in the "Teaching Materials" section of the course on the VIRTUALE e-learning platform.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Zelda Alice Franceschi