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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : Anthropology

136-279/379 Sorcery, Witchcraft and the Anthropology of Evil

Availability:

Not offered in 1997.

Credit Points:

16.7 2nd and 3rd year

Coordinator:

Dr Mary Patterson

Timetable:

Semester 2

Contact:

A 2-hour lecture/seminar and a 1-hour tutorial a week

Objectives:

Students completing this subject should be able to:

  • make a critical analysis of the ways in which anthropologists have attempted to explain the phenomena in question.

  • understand the nature of beliefs and practices about supernatural malevolence in relation to arguments about rationality.

  • present some arguments about the interpretation of evil in society in relation to issues of race, class, gender and colonialism.

Content:

The subject entails a cross-cultural and historical investigation of the beliefs and activities seen as manifestations of evil in the world, from sorcery and witchcraft in Africa, the Pacific and the Americas to witchcraft revivals and 'witch hunts' in the modern world.

Assessment:

Essay (50%); tutorial presentation (10%); take-home examination (40%), totalling no more than 5000 words.
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : Anthropology 
Status:                   OFFICIAL 1997
Last Modified:            Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm
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Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.