Universität Wien

240537 SE Anthropological approaches to myth and ritual (P4) (2017S)

Lessons from 18th-century Kamchatka and new perspectives

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 24 - Kultur- und Sozialanthropologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Monday 22.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 23.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Wednesday 24.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Friday 26.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Monday 29.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Tuesday 30.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Wednesday 31.05. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock
Thursday 01.06. 09:45 - 11:15 Seminarraum A, NIG 4. Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course aims to provide an overview of the "myth and ritual" debate in anthropology. To examine the question of the relation of myth(s) and ritual(s), we will take as point of departure a
text originally published in 1755 by Russian scholar and explorer Stepan Krasheninnikov.
Entitled Description of the Land of Kamchatka, this text contains the first known description of the seasonal ritual that Itelmen communities used to celebrate every November all around
Kamchatka (Russian Far East). The description appears in a chapter on "Feasts and Ceremonies" and prefigures major methodological and theoretical developments in the anthropological study
of myth and ritual. In many respects, Krasheninnikov’s seminal work constitutes a landmark of (proto-)anthropological theory and is worth revisiting.
During this course, we will do a close reading of Krasheninnikov’s description of Kamchatkan livelihoods and worldviews, and we will compare it to a selection of classical anthropological texts on myth and ritual. A main goal is to increase students’ ability to critically evaluate the classical literature by examining the history of the myth and ritual theory and its related assumptions. The course is taught in seminar format, and involves reading, discussion, and
writing. Students will learn:
• How to read and analyze 18th-century (proto-)ethnographic works, including archival material (maps, manuscripts, letters, reports, censuses, etc.)
• How to analyze and evaluate key arguments in the "myth and ritual" debate in anthropology
• Why classics of anthropological literature matter and how to use them in contemporary anthropological research
• How to explore new venues in the anthropological study of myth(s) and ritual(s)
Textbook (recommended, not required):
Robert A. Segal (ed.), 1998. The Myth and Ritual Theory: An Anthology. Malden/Oxford: Blackwell.
All assigned articles and texts for this course will be sent as PDF files to the students before the first day of class (May 22)

Assessment and permitted materials

Assignments:
• Participation: This course is designed to be a discussion/intensive class. Therefore, you
participation is important. Participation will be evaluated on the basis of evidence that you
have read, understood, and thought about the assigned readings in advance of class
discussion.
• Research term paper: You will write one in-depth paper (10-15 pages). Your paper may
be written on any topic of your choice, as long as it relates to one or more of the themes
studied in this course. The content of the paper must reflect serious use of published books
and scholarly articles. More complete instructions will be handed out in class.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

Will be announced in course

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:40