Introduction to the Anthropology of Islam and the Middle East
Course content
This course seeks to provide a broad-based introduction to the core themes and ideas of the anthropology of the Middle East, and by extension of the Anthropology of Islam. It begins by exploring the reasons behind the relatively late emergence of the Middle East as an area of study, before moving on to consider such topics as Orientalism, Gender, rural vs. urban anthropology, the role of religion (traditional and modern), and the forging of a regional subjectivity (as witnessed in the ongoing uprisings throughout the Middle East – the so-called “Arab Spring”). The course is intended both to stand alone as a regional module, and to offer a overview of the issues for those students who wish to take their study of the Middle East one step further.
From spring 2023 the course is also offered to students at the
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Bachelor and Master Programmes in Psychology
- Master programme in Global Development
Enrolled students register the course through the Selfservice. Please contact the study administration at each programme for questions regarding registration.
The goal of this course is twofold: simultaneously theoretical
and empirical. By the end of the course, students are expected to
have a firm grasp of the development of the anthropology of the
Middle East and of Islam, from its colonial origins to contemporary
work. They are also expected to have a clear idea of key lines of
tension and conflict in the Middle East today and to be able to
discuss the contemporary geo-political and cultural situation. In
the exam, the student must with clear language and lucidly
argumentation exhibit that the he/she is capable of:
• identifying an independent anthropological problem statement
relevant to the course's subject matter
• demonstrating factual knowledge of a selected ethnographic
field and/or empirical considerations relevant to the course’s
subject matter
• demonstrating insight into selected central theoretical
concepts relevant to the chosen subject area and course material
• conducting an analysis based on central concepts or themes
presented during the course.
Students must also fulfil the Department of Anthropology's form
and language requirements (see the curriculum 4.3.2 for more about
form and language requirements).
A combination of lectures, discussions, student presentations and group work
BSc students and MSc students: 500 pages obligatory literature.
The teacher will publish 200-300 pages of supplementary literature.
Course literature will be available through Absalon.
International- and credit students; read about application here: International students/Credit students
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Written assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Length: Portfolio exam can be written individually or in groups
of Max. 4 students. Portfolio exams consist of 2-7 submissions. For
MA students, there is a submission more than for BA students, i.e.
if the BA student has to submit five submissions, the MA students
must submit six submissions. The number of submissions is set by
the lecturer. The total length of all of the submissions must be
max. 30,000 keystrokes for one student. For groups of two students,
Max. 40,000 keystrokes. For groups of three students, Max. 45,000
keystrokes and for groups of four students, Max. 50,000 keystrokes.
Information of level and contribution:
In the case of group assignments, the contribution of each individual student must be clearly marked in the assignment. For groups with both BA and MA students, the same number of submissions is required as for MA students. The assignments are assessed jointly with a single grade.
Re-exam:
1st and 2nd re-exam: A new essay must be submitted. The new assignment must be submitted by the deadline for the re-exam.
Essay Length:
One BA student: 21.600-26.400 keystrokes. For group responses, Min. 6,750 and Max. 8,250 extra keystrokes per extra group member.
One MA student: 27,000-33,000 keystrokes. For group responses, Min. 8,450 and Max. 10,300 extra keystrokes per extra group member.
For groups with both BA and MA students:
One MA + one BA student: 31,900-38,975 (BA:14.175-17.325 KA:17.725-21.650)
One MA + two BA students: 38,050 – 46,475 (BA:11,700-14.300 KA:14.650-17.875)
One MA + three BA students: 44,525-54,375 (BA:10.475-12,800 MA:13.100-15.975)
Two MA + one BA student: 41,000-50,050 (BA:11,700-14.300 KA:14.650-17.875)
Two MA + two BA students: 47,150-57,550 (BA:10.475-12,800 MA:13.100-15.975)
Three MA + one BA student: 49,775-60,725 (BA:10.475-12,800 MA:13.100-15.975)
Literature
MA students must include supplementary literature in the exam assignment. The supplementary literature is chosen by the student.
Information of level and contribution
Students must indicate on the first page of the assignment whether they are a BA or MA students. In the case of group assignments, the contribution of each individual student must be clearly marked in the assignment. - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
See learning outcome
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 100
- Exam
- 64
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AANB05070U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Bachelor
Bachelor choiceFull Degree Master choice
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedulegroup
-
See timetable
- Studyboard
- Department of Anthropology, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Anthropology
- Department of Psychology
- Social Data Science
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Matthew Alexander Halkes Carey (13-796d80807471833a6f6d7e71854c6d7a80747e7b3a77813a7077)
Are you BA- or KA-student?
Courseinformation of students