Anthropology of More-Than-Human Worlds (ANTH30009)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5Not available in 2025

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Overview

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This subject draws on ethnographic examples to explore the diverse ways that humans come to know and think about the natural world, understand their place in relation to that world, and interpret their roles and responsibilities in relation to other beings in the world. Engaging with a range of ethnographic and theoretical literature, it questions what people might mean when they talk of Nature, including human nature.

Through considering topics such as Traditional Ecological Knowledge, patterns of land tenure and management, the power of anthropomorphism and the naturalising of social differences and inequalities, students will develop an understanding of recent approaches to a key issue in anthropology – the relationship between Nature and Culture. How we imagine that relationship is deeply implicated in some of the questions we are all now having to confront. Do we work with Nature, or against it? Did we invent ‘Nature’ (another of those pesky dualities)? And have we now brought about ‘the end of nature’? Are we now living in the Anthropocene, or in a post-human/more-than-human world?

Intended learning outcomes

Students who complete this subject should be able to: 

  • Demonstrate an understanding that what people designate, think about, and experience as 'nature' may vary, and demonstrate knowledge of different approaches within anthropology to documenting, analysing and theorising this variation
  • Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the range of ways people construct understandings of, and organise themselves in relation to, their natural environments
  • Apply an independent and creative approach to analysing understandings of 'nature', based on an appreciation of the interplay between theory and ethnographic inquiry
  • Articulate the relationship between diverse and contested forms of knowledge and practice in relation to 'nature' and the social, historical and cultural contexts that produced them
  • Reflect on and discuss their own attitudes to 'nature', and how these are framed by particular cultural understandings and social contexts
  • Apply critical and comparative analytical skills to identify and address issues raised by the confrontation between different systems of environmental knowledge and practice, and how these shape changing attitudes to 'nature'.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

Recommended background knowledge

Knowledge gained in completing any one of the following subjects:

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
ANTH10001 Anthropology: Studying Self and Other
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANTH20001 Keeping the Body in Mind
Not available in 2025
 12.5
ANTH20011 Ethnic Nationalism and the Modern World
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANTH20012 Self, Culture and Society
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
ANTH20008 Anthropology of Gender and Sexuality
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SOTH20002 Classical Sociological Theory
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: 14 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Paper

  • 500 words
During the teaching period17.5%

Paper

  • 500 words
During the teaching period17.5%

An essay outline

Week 115%

An essay

  • 3000 words
During the examination period60%
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures.Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. Throughout the semesterN/A

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2025

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 14 March 2025