Beauty as Ethnographic Practice (ANTH30019)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
What makes iPhones, Valentino’s dresses, Le Corbusier’s buildings, and Monet’s paintings “beautiful”? This subject explores the social, cultural, and political forces that define beauty in a variety of domains, which include urban spaces, interior design, fashion, and art. In this subject, students will engage in research projects in which they collaboratively explore real life situations. Students will interact with professionals in the design and creative industries, examine the creative processes that generate “beauty,” and gather insights about the unintended consequences of design products. The subject will deepen students’ ability to develop work-ready skills and allow them to explore theoretical insights through ethnographic practice.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of how anthropologists approach beauty, and processes of form-making such as design and architecture, as objects of study.
- Critically analyze and compare theories about the diverse social and cultural meanings of aesthetics, beauty, and design.
- Conduct research projects to acquire first-hand knowledge of the interplay between form and application, design ideals and technological implementations, architecture and social needs.
- Articulate how political and economic processes shape and are shaped by emerging aesthetics trends.
- Communicate effectively in written and oral formats, and collaborate in groups with people of diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
ANTH10001 Anthropology: Studying Human Diversity
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Ethnographic analysis
| During the examination period | 50% |
Group project and presentation (equivalent of 1000-words per member of each group). Take home group assessment after week 9.
| Week 9 | 25% |
Hurdle requirement Hurdle requirement: Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of class meetings in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject. | Throughout the semester | N/A |
Research journal - completed between week 3 and 12.
| Throughout the semester | 25% |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 36: A 2-hour seminar and 1 hour workshop per week for 12 weeks. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 23 July 2018 to 21 October 2018 Last self-enrol date 3 August 2018 Census date 31 August 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 September 2018 Assessment period ends 16 November 2018
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Last updated: 3 November 2022