This course provides a solid general understanding of the main concepts, theoretical perspectives, and methodological tools of cultural anthropology. Through anthropological languages, theories, and methods, students can acquire the tools to understand the differences and similarities between various sociocultural contexts and develop critical and independent thinking to explore social processes related to the contemporary world, with particular reference to situations of vulnerability, inequality, and discrimination.
teacher profile teaching materials
In the contemporary world, the anthropological perspective is a critical study aiming at understanding cultural diversity and similarities, processes building inequalities, differences, social hierarchies, new forms of action and resistance. The course aims to provide a) knowledge of anthropological perspectives and their main concepts and b) to develop an ability to understand currents of thought in their historical and social dimensions. In applying such knowledge, theories, and concepts, students will be able to c) develop a reflexive, autonomous, and critical gaze on the main topics of contemporary. On this background, d) a participatory method will be solicited to discuss explored social processes, especially related to the border issue. The border will be understood as that point in which two or more cultures, genders, bodies, social classes, and alliances intertwine (Gloria Anzaldùa, Borderland/La frontera). Suppose the border indicates a geographical boundary in a strict sense. In that case, it is generally conceived as a set of social and political processes questioning the construction of marginality and the violable and discriminated body. For these reasons, the border also expresses the place from which thinking new alliances and resistance, as well as processes engaging generations, training and educational institutions, and civil society to rethink new ways of belonging in the contemporary world.
The ethnographic method and ethnographic examples will encourage a participatory approach to understand the ‘otherness’, becoming a helpful means to develop a comparative and non-ethnocentric perspective, together with micro-macro levels of analysis.
2) Choose two texts from this list
• Agier, Michel (2020). Lo straniero che viene. Ripensare l’ospitalità. Raffaello Cortina. Milano.
• Alunni, Lorenzo (2024). Le cicatrici di Ulisse. Corpi e frontiere nel Mediterraneo, Meltemi.
• Anzaldúa, Gloria (2022). Terra di confine/La frontera. Black Coffee
• Bourgois, Philippe e Schonberg, Jeff (2011). Reietti e fuorilegge. Antropologia della violenza nella metropoli americana. DeriveApprodi, Roma.
• De León, Jason (2015). The land of open graves: Living and dying on the migrant trail. University of California Press.
• De León, Jason (2025). Soldiers and kings: Survival and hope in the world of human smuggling. Penguin Group.
• Fassin, Didier (2013). La forza dell’ordine. Antropologia della polizia nelle periferie urbane. La Linea, Bologna.
• Herzfeld, Michael (2021) Sfrattati dall’eternità. La ristrutturazione neoliberista a Roma. Meltemi
• Holmes, Seth M., (2023). Frutta fresca, corpi spezzati. Braccianti migranti negli Stati Uniti d’America. Meltemi.
• Khosravi, Shahram (2019). Io sono confine. Eléuthera.
• Omizzolo, Marco (2022). Per motivi di giustizia. People.
• Ong Aihwa (2005). Da rifugiati a cittadini. Pratiche di governo nella nuova America. Raffaello Cortina, Milano.
• Van Aken, Mauro (2020). Campati per aria. Elèuthera.
• Wacquant, Loic (2016). I reietti della città. Ghetto, periferia, stato. ETS.
Fruizione: 22902482 ANTROPOLOGIA CULTURALE E SOCIALE (6 CFU L39) in Servizio sociale e Sociologia L-40 R PINELLI BARBARA
Programme
The course focuses on ‘the border’ from an anthropological perspective. The border will be understood as a social space where multiple cultures, genders, bodies, social classes, and belongings overlap, conflict, or build new alliances and communities.In the contemporary world, the anthropological perspective is a critical study aiming at understanding cultural diversity and similarities, processes building inequalities, differences, social hierarchies, new forms of action and resistance. The course aims to provide a) knowledge of anthropological perspectives and their main concepts and b) to develop an ability to understand currents of thought in their historical and social dimensions. In applying such knowledge, theories, and concepts, students will be able to c) develop a reflexive, autonomous, and critical gaze on the main topics of contemporary. On this background, d) a participatory method will be solicited to discuss explored social processes, especially related to the border issue. The border will be understood as that point in which two or more cultures, genders, bodies, social classes, and alliances intertwine (Gloria Anzaldùa, Borderland/La frontera). Suppose the border indicates a geographical boundary in a strict sense. In that case, it is generally conceived as a set of social and political processes questioning the construction of marginality and the violable and discriminated body. For these reasons, the border also expresses the place from which thinking new alliances and resistance, as well as processes engaging generations, training and educational institutions, and civil society to rethink new ways of belonging in the contemporary world.
The ethnographic method and ethnographic examples will encourage a participatory approach to understand the ‘otherness’, becoming a helpful means to develop a comparative and non-ethnocentric perspective, together with micro-macro levels of analysis.
Core Documentation
1) King Charles (2020). La riscoperta dell’umanità. Come un gruppo di antropologi ribelli reinventò le idee di razza, sesso e genere nel XX secolo. Einaudi.2) Choose two texts from this list
• Agier, Michel (2020). Lo straniero che viene. Ripensare l’ospitalità. Raffaello Cortina. Milano.
• Alunni, Lorenzo (2024). Le cicatrici di Ulisse. Corpi e frontiere nel Mediterraneo, Meltemi.
• Anzaldúa, Gloria (2022). Terra di confine/La frontera. Black Coffee
• Bourgois, Philippe e Schonberg, Jeff (2011). Reietti e fuorilegge. Antropologia della violenza nella metropoli americana. DeriveApprodi, Roma.
• De León, Jason (2015). The land of open graves: Living and dying on the migrant trail. University of California Press.
• De León, Jason (2025). Soldiers and kings: Survival and hope in the world of human smuggling. Penguin Group.
• Fassin, Didier (2013). La forza dell’ordine. Antropologia della polizia nelle periferie urbane. La Linea, Bologna.
• Herzfeld, Michael (2021) Sfrattati dall’eternità. La ristrutturazione neoliberista a Roma. Meltemi
• Holmes, Seth M., (2023). Frutta fresca, corpi spezzati. Braccianti migranti negli Stati Uniti d’America. Meltemi.
• Khosravi, Shahram (2019). Io sono confine. Eléuthera.
• Omizzolo, Marco (2022). Per motivi di giustizia. People.
• Ong Aihwa (2005). Da rifugiati a cittadini. Pratiche di governo nella nuova America. Raffaello Cortina, Milano.
• Van Aken, Mauro (2020). Campati per aria. Elèuthera.
• Wacquant, Loic (2016). I reietti della città. Ghetto, periferia, stato. ETS.
Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory. However, participation in the course is recommended for a greater understanding of the disciplinary debate, the bibliography, and active participation in classroom discussions.Type of evaluation
Oral interview, about 15/20 minutes. Through questions/answers, it will be verified that: 1) the students have read the materials assigned 2) the students are able to interpret and reflect on concepts and perspectives illustrated; and 3) the students have developed the capacity of autonomous thought and to apply concepts to different contexts. The written examination, i.e. a multiple-choice or short-answer questionnaire, is optional: it can be requested or proposed according to the number of students.