Unit convenor and teaching staff | Unit convenor and teaching staff |
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp or admission to GDipArts
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Individually and collectively people make their lives meaningful through practices of symbolic representation. During the twentieth century anthropologists concerned with the study of culture came to focus on systems of symbols and meaning. Psychoanalysis and linguistics were important early influences on symbolic anthropology because they identified the capacity of the human mind to operate according to symbolic processes, but these theories also proved too universalist in their claims for anthropology's cross-cultural evidence. The 1980s saw a marked shift in anthropological approaches. Taking the anthropology of religion as its focus this unit examines key theorists and ethnographic studies in the field of symbolic anthropology and phenomenology. We discover that the study of culture shows that human consciousness includes a non-rational or affective aspect sometimes described as 'mystical' or mythic. Mythic consciousness is also explored in this unit as a distinct form of consciousness that should not be seen as false, inferior or irrational. We therefore consider the way phenomena such as dreams, spirits, magic, and emotions figure importantly in anthropological analysis.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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attend tutes and lectures | 15% | ongoing |
Classification exercises | 20% | 01/04/15 |
Major Essay | 40% | Wed May 13th |
Take-home exam | 25% | 09/06/15 |
Due: ongoing
Weighting: 15%
Attendance is compulsory and your level of participation will also be assessed. Each week all students are expected to have done the required readings and be ready to discuss them (and to link this to the lecture). Your preparation should include the formulation of at least one discussion question each week.
You will be expected to hand in a half-page to one-page summary/commentary on each reading (150-200 words) to your tutor in each tutorial session. Your tutor will discuss these with you in detail.
Due: 01/04/15
Weighting: 20%
From weeks 2 to 5 you will be set a series of small tasks, the results of which are to be written up and contextualized in the course readings and films we have covered so far in a short paper (1000 -1200 words in essay format with references). Further details for this assignment will be provided in lectures and tutorials.
Due: Wed May 13th
Weighting: 40%
The essay topics will be distributed in week 6. They will focus on the various theoretical perspectives presented in readings and lectures whilst allowing you to investigate a particular area of interest. The further readings listed for each topic and the lecture references each week should provide the basis for this essay.
Due: 09/06/15
Weighting: 25%
The exam will consist of short essay questions and will cover the lectures and tutorial readings for the unit. You will need the book of readings to complete the exam.
iLearn is used in this Unit
available on iLearn from Week 1
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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