SYMBOLS AND SOCIETY

ANT3SPS

2017

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

Human culture is often said to be communicated through the use of symbols. In this subject, students are introduced to the major issues involved in the understanding of culture as a symbolic system. Students will encounter a range of ethnographic examples of symbolic systems. Students can expect to achieve an understanding of how ideas are represented in symbols, how symbolic systems are configured, and how symbolism is related to social life, power, consciousness and the unconscious.

School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: Nicholas Herriman

Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Exchange Students: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: ANT2SPS

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Special conditions: N/A

Learning resources

Readings

Resource TypeTitleResource RequirementAuthor and YearPublisher
ReadingsThe Forest of SymbolsPreliminaryTurnerITHACA, CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1967
ReadingsThe Interpretation of CulturesPreliminaryGeertzHUTCHINSON, LONDON, 1983

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

01. Critically evaluate key texts related to the anthropology of symbols.

Activities:
Multiple choice questions, in-class assessments.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
Ethical & Cultural Awareness(Ethical & Cultural Awareness)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

02. Write a critical and coherent essay that demonstrates awareness of benefits and shortcomings of various anthropological theories.

Activities:
Essay.
Related graduate capabilities and elements:
Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)
Ethical & Cultural Awareness(Ethical & Cultural Awareness)
Writing(Writing)
Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)
Life-Long Learning(Life-Long Learning)
Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

Online, 2017, Semester 2, Online

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Enrolment information:

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Nicholas Herriman

Class requirements

Unscheduled Online ClassWeek: 31 - 43
One 1.0 days unscheduled online class other recurrence from week 31 to week 43 and delivered via online.

Assessments

Assessment elementComments%ILO*
One 2000-word essay5002
Weekly in-class assessments (1,000-word equivalent)2501
Weekly multiple choice questions (1,000-word equivalent)2501