Bi7879 General Anthropology II: Sociocultural Anthropology

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Paride Bollettin, MSc., Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Jaroslav Malina, DrSc. (lecturer)
RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jaroslav Malina, DrSc.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: RNDr. Robin Pěnička, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 40 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/40, only registered: 3/40, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/40
Course objectives
"Where are we? Who are we? Where are we going? "- the answers to these fundamental questions are contained in this lecture series designed for Masaryk University students. The program is based on empirical studies (biological, social and cultural anthropology), in which lecturers from the Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, actively participate. It is based on the knowledge that humans and communities, their origins, evolution and transformation are determined by the interaction of biological, medical, psychological, social and cultural contingencies.
In the spring semester, humanness is presented as a socio-cultural entity (local socio-cultural variants of the universal structures of the human mind and behavior, their differences and similarities along the entire continuum of development and possible future directions).
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course the student will be aware of the main forms of the human society, its organizational and maintenance principles, kinship systems and marriage. The student will be able to describe world religions and the differences between them, their role in society and in the life of the individual. On the basis of this knowledge, the student will be able to explain the relationship between the regulatory function of culture, the potential for cultural change, assess possible implications from cultural interactions in specific circumstances and assess the potential of future conflicts in specific regions.
Syllabus
  • 1. Sociocultural Anthropology: Past, Present, Future.
  • 2. Subject and methods of sociocultural anthropology.
  • 3. Human nature.
  • 4. Human society and its components (The "primitive" society. "Primitives"/Savages. The preliterate peoples and savages. Lineage. Segment of the lineage. Tribe. Clan. Gang. Vassalage. The chief. Magician. Shaman.)
  • 5. Civilization. Nation. Nationality. State.
  • 6. Family relationships (Marriage. Kinship. Monogamy. Polygamy. Polyandry. Endogamy. Exogamy. Levirate. Sororate marriage. Concubinage. Matriarchy. Matrilinearity. Matrilocality. Patriarchy. Patrilinearity. Patrilocality.)
  • 7. Spiritual life and religion. (Animism. Anthropomorphism. Polytheism. Fetishism. Totemism. Taboo. Incest. Magic. Ritual. rite. initiation rite. funerary rite. Kula. mask. Cult. Ancestor worship. Name. Myth. Mythology.
  • 8. "Great" religions and ethical doctrines: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism, Judaism, etc.)
  • 9. Definition of Culture (Anthropological culture. Subculture. Counterculture. Local culture. Archaeological culture. Cultural element. Cultural complex. Cultural center. Culture core. Cultural type. Cultural Area. Cultural construct. Sociocultural systems.)
  • 10. The regulatory function of culture (Patterns of culture. Culture themes. Sociocultural regulatives. Cultural needs. Cultural capital. Cultural level. Cultural Relativism. Ethnocentrism. Multiculturalism.)
  • 11. Culture and change (Cultural change. Evolutionary universals. Cultural heritage. Cultural gap. Culture shock. Cultural contact. Acculturation. Enculturation. Cultural conflict. Cultural disintegration. Cultural convergence.)
  • 12. Anthropology of Sexuality and Anthropology of Death.
Literature
  • Malina J. a kolektiv (2009): Antropologický slovník. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Dostupné na: http://is.muni.cz/elportal/?id=858696
  • Malina J. (ed.) a kolektiv (2010): Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie. Brno: Masarykova univerzita. Dostupné na: http://is.muni.cz/elportal/?id=883579
Teaching methods
Lectures in general anthropology focused on socio-cultural topics.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with oral exam. To pass the exam successfully the student must prove good knowledge of the issues discussed during lectures and in the required reading.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
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