RELIGION OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA
- Academic year
- 2020/2021 Syllabus of previous years
- Official course title
- RELIGIONI DEL SUD-EST ASIATICO CONTEMPORANEO
- Course code
- LT2980 (AF:345936 AR:184458)
- Modality
- On campus classes
- ECTS credits
- 6
- Degree level
- Bachelor's Degree Programme
- Educational sector code
- L-OR/21
- Period
- 1st Semester
- Course year
- 1
- Where
- VENEZIA
- Moodle
- Go to Moodle page
Contribution of the course to the overall degree programme goals
Optional course for the B.A. program in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and North Africa with Southeast Asia.
Formative objectives are within the area of cultural and humanistic skills learning.
Formative objectives are within the area of cultural and humanistic skills learning.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
- The religious panorama of contemporary Southeast Asia with an emphasis on Buddhism
- Key anthropological approaches to the study of religion in contemporary Southeast Asia
Applying knowledge and understanding:
- Enhance one’s knowledge of the societies and cultures of contemporary Southeast Asia via the study of religion
- Improve one’s analytical and logical skills via the study of the religious phenomena explored in the course
- Familiarize with the conventions and methodologies of academic debating and writing
- Articulate one’s opinions critically and with reference to the relevant scholarship
- The religious panorama of contemporary Southeast Asia with an emphasis on Buddhism
- Key anthropological approaches to the study of religion in contemporary Southeast Asia
Applying knowledge and understanding:
- Enhance one’s knowledge of the societies and cultures of contemporary Southeast Asia via the study of religion
- Improve one’s analytical and logical skills via the study of the religious phenomena explored in the course
- Familiarize with the conventions and methodologies of academic debating and writing
- Articulate one’s opinions critically and with reference to the relevant scholarship
Pre-requirements
An interest in the religions, societies and cultures of Southeast Asia.
Contents
This course introduces students to the study of religion in contemporary Southeast Asia. Envisaged as a dialogue between teacher and students, it privileges anthropological over scriptural approaches.
The course is based on ethnographies from the region, complemented by multimedia materials. It touches on topics including the relationship between religion and politics, religion and economy, as well as booming phenomena such as divination and spirit mediumship. The course ultimately presents religion as a key lens for exploring the complex and highly dynamic socio-cultural realities of Southeast Asia.
The course is based on ethnographies from the region, complemented by multimedia materials. It touches on topics including the relationship between religion and politics, religion and economy, as well as booming phenomena such as divination and spirit mediumship. The course ultimately presents religion as a key lens for exploring the complex and highly dynamic socio-cultural realities of Southeast Asia.
Referral texts
The teacher will provide all readings (academic articles and chapters) on a weekly basis via Moodle.
Assessment methods
The assessment is a take-home short essay (1,500 words, excluding the bibliography).
During the final class, the teacher will provide between 5 to 10 essay topics which are related to themes covered by the course. Students will be able to choose one topic to develop in the essay.
The evaluation will focus on how well the essay responds to the essay topic, the strength of the argument and the appropriate use of bibliographic sources.
The submission deadline (to be confirmed on the basis of the exam calendar) will be within the first exam session. The teacher will evaluate every essay and provide students with a written feedback.
Students who do not pass the exam in the first instance will be able to resubmit the same essay during the next exam session, modifying it on the basis of the teacher’s feedback.
Students who wish to improve their marks can submit a new essay during the next exam session (date to be confirmed on the basis of the exam calendar). This new essay will have to respond a new essay topic.
During the final class, the teacher will provide between 5 to 10 essay topics which are related to themes covered by the course. Students will be able to choose one topic to develop in the essay.
The evaluation will focus on how well the essay responds to the essay topic, the strength of the argument and the appropriate use of bibliographic sources.
The submission deadline (to be confirmed on the basis of the exam calendar) will be within the first exam session. The teacher will evaluate every essay and provide students with a written feedback.
Students who do not pass the exam in the first instance will be able to resubmit the same essay during the next exam session, modifying it on the basis of the teacher’s feedback.
Students who wish to improve their marks can submit a new essay during the next exam session (date to be confirmed on the basis of the exam calendar). This new essay will have to respond a new essay topic.
Teaching methods
Classroom teaching and debates.
Teaching language
English
Type of exam
written
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals
This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development
Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 08/09/2020