This course is a review of different social theories in anthropology. Keeping in mind recent debates on the concept of culture, discussions will include classic as well as critical theories that have emerged in the field. The flow of the course is generally guided by genealogical and thematic legacies in the field, following a somewhat chronological sequence. The reading materials come from seminal works of early and contemporary socio-cultural anthropologists coming from the American and European traditions. These will be discussed in relation to the social, political, historical conditions within which they developed as well as the ethnographic/ethnological evidence the theories draw on. This course is intended to provide students with conceptual and theoretical tools that they can use for their own research projects.
- Teacher: Monica Fides Amada Santos