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Lived Religion in an Uncertain World (ANTH30003)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 1
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
What is religion? What purpose does it serve? How does it vary across cultures? Can you have religion without god(s)? Why is it growing rapidly in many parts of the world despite predictions of its inevitable decline? Are new forms of faith emerging to replace the old forms? In this subject, we explore the symbolic systems and ritual practices that help us all make sense of our place in the social world, the political order, the environment, and the cosmos. Drawing on classic and contemporary anthropological approaches to religion, we ask new questions about the ancient and novel religious traditions that seem to be flourishing in the uncertain world of the early twenty-first century. The subject involves interactive lectures and small group discussions. Assessments offer students the chance to learn from and with peers; to practice the art of writing concise, engaging, research-based analysis aimed at a broad readership; and to undertake hands-on ethnographic observation of religious practice.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should:
- have an advanced understanding of the key concepts and theoretical debates that have shaped the anthropological study of religion;
- have a clear sense of how those debates have shifted over time;
- be sensitive to the broad range of perspectives that anthropologists bring to bear on religious phenomena (psychoanalytic, structural-functional, symbolic, socio-economic);
- have an appreciation of the diverse manifestations of religious thought and practice in ethnographic settings as diverse as Africa, South America, North America, and Asia;
- have developed an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective on religious phenomena that allows for in-depth analysis of contemporary religious practices;
- be able to communicate in a variety of written and oral formats and to collaborate effectively in groups with people whose disciplinary and cultural backgrounds may differ from their own;
- gain a broad understanding of anthropological approaches to religion;
- build more in-depth knowledge of a particular religious tradition in its historical and contemporary diversity;
- practice skills of ethnographic observation and writing;
- practice writing clearly and concisely for a broadly educated non-specialist audience;
- be able to orally summarise, critique, and reflect on the significance of anthropological research in small and large group settings;
- provide constructive commentary on peer's research and writing;
- establish good habits of reading and research through regular reflection.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
ANTH30003 The Human Cosmos
ANTH30003 Myth, Ritual and Performance
Recommended background knowledge
Knowledge gained in completing any one of the following subjects is recommended but not required.
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
ANTH10001 | Anthropology: Studying Self and Other | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ANTH20012 | Self, Culture and Society | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
ANTH20014 | The Secret Life of Students | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
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: 27 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Ethnographic observation
| From Week 5 to Week 10 | 20% |
Draft of commentary
| Week 8 | 10% |
Revised commentary
| During the examination period | 35% |
Reading reflections
| End of semester | 25% |
Participation and end-of-semester reflection on learning
| During the examination period | 10% |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance at 75% of tutorials. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Debra McDougall Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 30 hours - 2.5 hour seminar x 12 weeks Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 27 April 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided online through the subject's LMS site prior to the commencement of semester.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Major Anthropology Specialisation (formal) Anthropology Specialisation (formal) Anthropology Breadth Track Anthropology - ritual, meaning and performance - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 27 April 2024