Students

ANTH307 – Culture Myth and Symbolism

2016 – S1 Day

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kalpana Ram
Payel Ray
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
39cp or admission to GDipArts
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
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.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 4. Creative and innovative
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Class participation 15% No ongoing
Summary of readings weeks 1-5 25% No 11 April
Temple observation/report 30% No 16 May
Final essay 30% No 15 June

Class participation

Due: ongoing
Weighting: 15%

The mark is based on coming to class with a summary of the reading, that will address the concrete ethnographic context of the reading, its argument as well as its broader theoretical points. Based on this the student will be asked to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the reading, and to relate it to any experience or other readings. Students will take turn in also leading class discussion one week of the 12, in the second half hour of tutorial discussion.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Summary of readings weeks 1-5

Due: 11 April
Weighting: 25%

  1. This is designed to test your class preparation for weeks 2-5.

    Based on your reading for lectures, tutorials and lecture notes taken in the first five weeks, summarise what you have learned so far of the relation between culture, body and place, based on concrete examples taken from readings on particular kinds of practices: talking, story telling, walking, healing. To repeat, you do not need any new readings for this assignment: it is to give me a sense of how well you are preparing for classes, and how much you are keeping up with the readings, and digesting them.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning

Temple observation/report

Due: 16 May
Weighting: 30%

Based on your visit to the Hindu temple, write an account where you use your readings on symbol, ritual, bodily senses and bodily agency. Again, no readings required beyond those covered in tutorials and readings on the Hindu temple. Here you will merge your description based on observation and our discussions in tutorial following the visit with the readings in previous weeks.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 4. Creative and innovative
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Final essay

Due: 15 June
Weighting: 30%

Essay topics still under preparation. You will be given a choice of topics designed to cover material in the second half of course.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 4. Creative and innovative
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning

Delivery and Resources

The course is a combination of field exercises and reading, writing essays, reports. We will use ILearn, field visit to Hindu temple, a workshop on bodily movement and learning, as well as lectures, tutorials, discussions and feedback on written work.

Policies and Procedures

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

New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/

Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.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.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning

Assessment tasks

  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Summary of readings weeks 1-5

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Summary of readings weeks 1-5
  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Summary of readings weeks 1-5
  • Temple observation/report
  • Final essay

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking
  • 5. Effective communication
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Temple observation/report

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • 1. Discipline specific knowledge and skills
  • 3. Problem solving and research capability
  • 6. Engaged and ethical local and global citizens
  • 7. Capable of professional and personal judgement and initiative
  • 8. Commitment to continuous learning
  • 9. Socially and environmentally active and responsible

Assessment task

  • Temple observation/report