Students

ANTH2004 – Anthropology of Art and Material Culture

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Tomas Wilkoszewski
tomas.wilkoszewski@mq.edu.au
Payel Ray
payel.ray@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ANTH150 or ANTH1050) or (40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit introduces students to a number of vital artistic and curatorship practices, and to the social worlds and skills they generate. The unit sketches out some of the major theoretical questions concerning the anthropology of art. It also facilitates students to engage with art in a more experiential manner, through sponsoring one's own practice of it, enabling students to make art and to reflect upon the issues and experiences that emerge in the process. Here students are encouraged themselves to engage in art practice, which may include pottery, filmmaking, calligraphy, curatorship, and ethnographic writing. In doing so, the unit enables students to learn not only about the anthropology of art but to consider also the complementary process of anthropology as art. How do we represent - write about, film, draw, and otherwise portray - the lives, places and activities of others? Students interested both in the cross-cultural expression of art and in making art themselves should take this unit.

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:

  • ULO1: Identify and analyse key concepts and theoretical developments in the anthropology of art.
  • ULO2: Investigate how anthropological research contributes to our understanding of the cultural diversity of contemporary art practices and aesthetic experiences.
  • ULO3: Develop skills in the arts of anthropology as a research method.
  • ULO4: Analyse the relationship between art and anthropology (focusing on ethnographic writing and ethnographic film) as collaborative practices.
  • ULO5: Actively participate in group discussion and practice on the anthropology of art in a confident and critically informed manner.

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Classes

Course Structure: 2-hour lecture (or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour film), 1 hour tutorial per week. Attendance at both lectures and tutorials is required.

A commitment to reading is essential

  • It is the basis for your informed engagement with ideas.
  • The lectures require more than passive listening.
  • You will be expected to actively participate in discussions that may evolve.
  • No prior knowledge of art history or criticism will be assumed and the theoretical frameworks required for this unit will be taught in the context of lectures, tutorials, and course readings.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Required Reading:

There is no one set text for this unit but the weekly Required Readings are available on the ILearn page. Lectures, tutorials, the essay and exam are based on these readings. Additional references are listed below and should be available from Open Reserve in the library.

Recommended Texts:

In addition to the articles and chapters linked to ILearn, the following are highly recommended background and supplemental texts.

  1. Berger, John. Ways of Seeing.
  2. Born, Georgina. 1995. Rationalizing Culture: IRCAM, Boulez, and the Institutionalization of the Musical Avant-Garde. University of California Press.
  3. Gell, Alfred. 1998. Art and Agency: An Anthropological Theory. Oxford University Press.
  4. Guilbault, Serge. 1985. How New York Stole the Idea of Modern Art. University of Chicago Press.
  5. Myers, Fred. 2002. Painting Culture. Durham and London: Duke UP.
  6. Weidman, Amy. 2006. Singing the Classical, Voicing the Modern: The Postcolonial politics of music in South India. Durham and London: Duke UP.
  7. Winegar, Jessica. 2006. Creative Reckonings: The Politics of Art and Culture in Contemporary Egypt. Stanford University Press.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
12/02/2020 Changed the weighting of assessments and edited the ULO linking.