ENVIRONMENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2

The course is primarily addressed to students of the Master Degree in Environmental Humanities who have already passed 'Environmental Anthropology 1', mod.1 and 2. The participation of students of other programmes can be authorised upon agreement with the instructors.

The course will provide students with the practical tools, theoretical knowledge and basic skills to plan and carry out anthropological/ethnographic research. The skills and knowledge acquired during this course will help direct and conduct field research in its initial stages and facilitate the analysis of ethnographic data. Furthermore, the course will clarify the difference between anthropological/ethnographic research and other types of research, clarifying to students the complementarity of the various methodological and theoretical approaches offered by the entire interdisciplinary master's degree course, best equipping them for their future professional's path thanks to the acquired ability to discern and choose the most appropriate methodology, in relation to their needs, interests and sensitivities.

Environmental Anthropology 1, mod.1 and 2. To best organize the work, it is important that those who wish to attend are present from the first lesson and have with them the handbook (The Ethnographer's Way) which will support the course. From the first lesson, every student we will work on the development of a project idea, so it is good that each one arrive at the first lesson with a preliminary idea of ​​an ethnographic research, possibly linked in some way to environmental themes. Those who do not attend the laboratory will still be able to carry out the course independently by referring to the handbook and the assigned readings.

Title: Designing an Ethnographic Project
The course is mixed in nature, both laboratory and frontal. Exercises aimed at developing a project idea will be conducted, so it is good for everyone to arrive at the first lesson with a preliminary idea of ​​ethnographic research, possibly linked in some way to environmental issues. To best organize the laboratory, it is important that those who wish to attend are present from the first lesson and have the main reference manual (The Ethnographer's Way) that will support the laboratory, a laptop, a notebook, pencil and eraser. Frontal lessons will follow to discuss aspects related to ethnographic research (relationship and policies of the ethnographic encounter, ethics, participant observation, interviews). Those who do not attend the laboratory will still be able to complete the course independently by referring to the reference manual and the assigned readings.

Peterson, K and Olson, V., 2024, 'The Ethnographer's Way. A Handbook for Multidimensional Research Design', Duke University Press, Durham and London (Introduction, Module 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - excluding the 'Collective Concept Workspace' and 'Interludes' sections))
Ortner, S. (2016). "Dark anthropology and its others. Theory since the eighties." HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 6(1): 47-73.
Research Ethics in Ethnography/Anthropology
Fluehr-Lobban C. 2015. “Ethics”, in: H. Russell Bernard and Clarence C. Gravlee, Handbook of Methods in Cultural Anthropology, Second Edition, Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 131-150.
Punch, S.. 2012. "Hidden struggles of fieldwork: Exploring the role and use of field diaries." Emotion, Space and Society 5(2): 86-93.
Campbell E. and Lassiter L.E. 2015. “Interviews and Conversations”, in: Doing Ethnography Today Theories, Methods, Exercises, Wiley, pp. 84-112.

Optional:
Hylland Eriksen, T., 1995, chapter: ‘Fieldwork and Ethnography’, in 'Small Places, Large Issues', Pluto Press, London & NY
Dumit, J., 2014, 'Writing the Implosion: Teaching the World One Thing at a Time.' Cultural Anthropology 29(2): 344-362.

Evaluation of a proposal of an ethnographic research project (between 3,000 and 5,000 words, including bibliography) on a topic of your choice related to environmental issues. More information on how to set up the writing is available on Moodle.

The course includes short lectures, practical assignments and supervised class discussions.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development