2024
Anthropology of Space
Name: Anthropology of Space
Code: SOC13310I
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area:
Sociology
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
General objectives:
1. To critically reflect, from different anthropological problems, on the ways of representing and living the contemporary space.
2. Provide descriptive-analytical skills of observation of social reality, using methodological tools of the social sciences, and Anthropology, in particular;
3. Explore inter-relations between spatial and social organization, based on the analysis of various types of spaces.
Specific objectives:
1. Know and Operate the concepts on which anthropology (and the anthropology of space) is based.
2. To know, exploratory, the anthropological method.
3. Understand and problematize the mutually constitutive relationship between space and culture;
4. To know and to problematize the uses and social appropriations of different typologies of spaces.
5. Starting from the analysis of case studies, creatively problematize on the different modes of
appropriation of spaces.
1. To critically reflect, from different anthropological problems, on the ways of representing and living the contemporary space.
2. Provide descriptive-analytical skills of observation of social reality, using methodological tools of the social sciences, and Anthropology, in particular;
3. Explore inter-relations between spatial and social organization, based on the analysis of various types of spaces.
Specific objectives:
1. Know and Operate the concepts on which anthropology (and the anthropology of space) is based.
2. To know, exploratory, the anthropological method.
3. Understand and problematize the mutually constitutive relationship between space and culture;
4. To know and to problematize the uses and social appropriations of different typologies of spaces.
5. Starting from the analysis of case studies, creatively problematize on the different modes of
appropriation of spaces.
Contents
1. The Object of Anthropology. The concept of Culture, Space, Place.
2. The Anthropological Method: Field work and participant observation
3. The Cultural Construction of Space. Space and cultural identity.
4. Social appropriation and cultural meanings of places: Public Space and Domestic Space.
Analysis of Case Studies: a) Public Space (3 Case Studies): São Paulo (Brazil), Izmir (Turkey) and Singapore. B) Domestic space (3 case studies), in context Berbere (Algeria), Malay (Malaysia) and Portuguese.
2. The Anthropological Method: Field work and participant observation
3. The Cultural Construction of Space. Space and cultural identity.
4. Social appropriation and cultural meanings of places: Public Space and Domestic Space.
Analysis of Case Studies: a) Public Space (3 Case Studies): São Paulo (Brazil), Izmir (Turkey) and Singapore. B) Domestic space (3 case studies), in context Berbere (Algeria), Malay (Malaysia) and Portuguese.
Teaching Methods
Oral presentation supported by visual methodologies, critical reading of texts, participation in a conference and the exercise of empirical observation.
Continuous assessment regime. Realization of a theoretical essay (50%) a group work (25%) and individual empirical observation report (25%).
Assessment by Exam System: a final exam (100%)
Continuous assessment regime. Realization of a theoretical essay (50%) a group work (25%) and individual empirical observation report (25%).
Assessment by Exam System: a final exam (100%)
Teaching Staff (2023/2024 )
- Filipa da Mota Alvim de Carvalho [responsible]
