Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology at Goldsmiths is one of the most consistently innovative in the UK. It has played a significant role in the development of new fields and directions in the discipline, such as the anthropology of Europe and the anthropology of media. Anthropology at Goldsmiths has above all a contemporary orientation, and contributes both to the development of the academic discipline and to the world outside it.
This happens through policy-oriented research and advocacy in a range of areas – from health to community work, from development to music and art, from urban planning to brain imaging – in which anthropology is active and relevant in public domains in the UK and elsewhere.
Please note: in the Summer term you can choose to do 2 additional credits of project work related to courses studied in the Spring term. This work is negotiated individual study supported by some tutorial guidance. You should inform your home university and the International Office at Goldsmiths of the agreed topic once it has been confirmed. When you tell your International Liaison tutor the topics you are interested in studying, they can consider appropriate tutorial guidance arrangements. You should aim to confirm these details by week 6 of the Spring term.
See also Professional and Community Education for other courses in this subject.
Level 1
AN51001A
Introduction to Social Anthropology
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
Please note: not suitable for Anthropology majors.
You study the basic anthropological concepts of kinship, politics, economics and religion,using diverse ethnographic material. Thereis also a survey of the different theoretical schools of anthropology.
Introduction to Social Anthropology
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
Please note: not suitable for Anthropology majors.
You study the basic anthropological concepts of kinship, politics, economics and religion,using diverse ethnographic material. Thereis also a survey of the different theoretical schools of anthropology.
AN51003A
Anthropological Methods
(4 credits, Spring)
Learn how anthropologists conduct their research. You undertake an exercise in participant observation, and learn about a range of data collection techniques.
Anthropological Methods
(4 credits, Spring)
Learn how anthropologists conduct their research. You undertake an exercise in participant observation, and learn about a range of data collection techniques.
AN51004A
Ethnographic Film
(4 credits, Autumn)
Your study focuses on film as a form of anthropological knowledge. You look at a series of documentary films and discuss and analyse them in the light of debates within both anthropology and film theory.
Ethnographic Film
(4 credits, Autumn)
Your study focuses on film as a form of anthropological knowledge. You look at a series of documentary films and discuss and analyse them in the light of debates within both anthropology and film theory.
AN51008A
Ethnography of a Selected Region II – Caribbean
(4 credits, Autumn)
You examine: the impact of colonialism, plantations and slavery (including linguistic and cultural groupings); peasantisation and maroon societies; tourism, urbanisation and migration.
Ethnography of a Selected Region II – Caribbean
(4 credits, Autumn)
You examine: the impact of colonialism, plantations and slavery (including linguistic and cultural groupings); peasantisation and maroon societies; tourism, urbanisation and migration.
AN51013A
Ethnography of a Selected Region I – South Asia
(4 credits, Autumn)
In this course you learn about South Asian cultural life through a focus on the ethnography of the region. Taking India as a key focus you explore issues such as caste inequalities, gender relations, protest movements, violence and transformations in colonial, national and religious ideologies. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on how these issues have been represented within and outside anthropology.
Ethnography of a Selected Region I – South Asia
(4 credits, Autumn)
In this course you learn about South Asian cultural life through a focus on the ethnography of the region. Taking India as a key focus you explore issues such as caste inequalities, gender relations, protest movements, violence and transformations in colonial, national and religious ideologies. You will also have the opportunity to reflect on how these issues have been represented within and outside anthropology.
AN51015A
Anthropology Today
(4 credits, Autumn)
What is anthropology’s role in public life? How have anthropologists past and present contributed to some of the most pressing debates of the day? This course examines anthropology’s unique position and methodologies for exploring issues such as environmental politics, new technologies, war, conflict, racism, cognition and the nature of social experience.
New course: subject to validation.
Anthropology Today
(4 credits, Autumn)
What is anthropology’s role in public life? How have anthropologists past and present contributed to some of the most pressing debates of the day? This course examines anthropology’s unique position and methodologies for exploring issues such as environmental politics, new technologies, war, conflict, racism, cognition and the nature of social experience.
New course: subject to validation.
AN51016A
Anthropology in London
(4 credits, Spring)
London, with its complex past and thriving multicultural present, offers a unique vantage point from which to study important historical and contemporary issues alongside the production of anthropology. Learn about issues such as the international slave trade, globalisation, cosmopolitanism, post-colonialism, migration, commemoration, identity politics and transformations through visiting museums, galleries, streets and markets in a course which combines readings in anthropology with field trips in the city.
New course: subject to validation.
Anthropology in London
(4 credits, Spring)
London, with its complex past and thriving multicultural present, offers a unique vantage point from which to study important historical and contemporary issues alongside the production of anthropology. Learn about issues such as the international slave trade, globalisation, cosmopolitanism, post-colonialism, migration, commemoration, identity politics and transformations through visiting museums, galleries, streets and markets in a course which combines readings in anthropology with field trips in the city.
New course: subject to validation.
Level 2
AN52002A
Religion, Morals and Symbolism
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
You study religion, magic and symbolism in relation to social institutions, bodily inscription, nationalism and fundamentalism, as well as perspectives on selected world religions including Christianity and Islam.
Religion, Morals and Symbolism
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
You study religion, magic and symbolism in relation to social institutions, bodily inscription, nationalism and fundamentalism, as well as perspectives on selected world religions including Christianity and Islam.
AN52003B
Ethnography of the Caribbean
(4 credits, Autumn)
You explore the Caribbean as a socio-cultural area; cultural heritages and culture-building; race, class and gender; kinship and religion; rural development and urban life; and the Caribbean diaspora.
Ethnography of the Caribbean
(4 credits, Autumn)
You explore the Caribbean as a socio-cultural area; cultural heritages and culture-building; race, class and gender; kinship and religion; rural development and urban life; and the Caribbean diaspora.
AN52004A
Politics, Economics and Social Change
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
You examine the scope and approaches of economic and political anthropology, including theories of social change; comparative study of First and Third World development; agrarian structure; peasant societies; multinational corporations; dependency theory and nationalism and ethnicity.
Politics, Economics and Social Change
(4 credits, Autumn; 10 credits, Full year;)
You examine the scope and approaches of economic and political anthropology, including theories of social change; comparative study of First and Third World development; agrarian structure; peasant societies; multinational corporations; dependency theory and nationalism and ethnicity.
AN52007A
Ethnography of (Post)-Socialism
(4 credits, Spring)
You develop an understanding of the main issues of the anthropology of socialism and after. The course also covers the recent anthropological research and literature on postsocialism, looking particularly at new nationalisms, changing economic formations, religion, and gender relations.
Ethnography of (Post)-Socialism
(4 credits, Spring)
You develop an understanding of the main issues of the anthropology of socialism and after. The course also covers the recent anthropological research and literature on postsocialism, looking particularly at new nationalisms, changing economic formations, religion, and gender relations.
Level 3
AN53003A
Psychological Perspectives in Anthropology
(4 credits, Autumn)
The course, which is both historical and thematic, is focused around a number of key scholars from the past and in contemporary literature who have attempted to bring a psychological dimension into Anthropology (or the Social Sciences more generally). It therefore focuses around various issues; personality, language, madness and cognition, and conceptions of the self to examine the relationship between the self, human agency and the social context.
Psychological Perspectives in Anthropology
(4 credits, Autumn)
The course, which is both historical and thematic, is focused around a number of key scholars from the past and in contemporary literature who have attempted to bring a psychological dimension into Anthropology (or the Social Sciences more generally). It therefore focuses around various issues; personality, language, madness and cognition, and conceptions of the self to examine the relationship between the self, human agency and the social context.
AN53005B
History and Anthropology
(4 credits, Spring)
You look at new anthropological history and historical anthropology; sources and methods (eg archives, oral history, paintings, maps, artefacts); fact and fiction; myth and memory; cross-cultural categories of time and space; and different ways of talking about the past.
History and Anthropology
(4 credits, Spring)
You look at new anthropological history and historical anthropology; sources and methods (eg archives, oral history, paintings, maps, artefacts); fact and fiction; myth and memory; cross-cultural categories of time and space; and different ways of talking about the past.
AN53008A
Anthropology of Health I
(4 credits, Autumn)
You examine key themes in medical anthropology, ranging from ideas about healing to social inequality and the ‘new biology’. The course addresses issues of biomedicine in the UK alongside alternative therapies and explanations of health/illness in different parts of the world, and approaches to the political economy. Specific sessions include the application of medical anthropology, ‘new’ diseases and technologies.
Anthropology of Health I
(4 credits, Autumn)
You examine key themes in medical anthropology, ranging from ideas about healing to social inequality and the ‘new biology’. The course addresses issues of biomedicine in the UK alongside alternative therapies and explanations of health/illness in different parts of the world, and approaches to the political economy. Specific sessions include the application of medical anthropology, ‘new’ diseases and technologies.
AN53009A
Anthropology, Representation and Contemporary Media
(4 credits, Autumn)
This course examines the interface between anthropological representation and contemporary media employing photography, film, video, television and other electronic means of communication. Topics include: visual anthropology; modes of representation in the industrial age (print, film, music); the image of the primitive; ethnographic film; World cinema; ‘indigenous’ media; Hollywood; Bollywood; mass culture and new technologies.
Anthropology, Representation and Contemporary Media
(4 credits, Autumn)
This course examines the interface between anthropological representation and contemporary media employing photography, film, video, television and other electronic means of communication. Topics include: visual anthropology; modes of representation in the industrial age (print, film, music); the image of the primitive; ethnographic film; World cinema; ‘indigenous’ media; Hollywood; Bollywood; mass culture and new technologies.
AN53013A
Urban Anthropology
(4 credits, Spring)
You study the changing use of different urban spaces at different times, and examine the following: how cities are represented; ideas of order and disorder; public and domestic places; ideas of control and resistance through carnival; informal economies; and kinship networks.
Urban Anthropology
(4 credits, Spring)
You study the changing use of different urban spaces at different times, and examine the following: how cities are represented; ideas of order and disorder; public and domestic places; ideas of control and resistance through carnival; informal economies; and kinship networks.
AN53015A
Anthropology of Art
(4 credits, Autumn)
You study key issues in the anthropology of art. The course includes: conflicting definitions of art and aesthetics; modes of seeing within and across cultures; creativity, inspiration and the category of the artist; the body as art; issues of gender and ideology; the politics of the ownership and display of non-Western art works; imaging nationality and ethnicity through art; primitivism and the construction of the other.
Anthropology of Art
(4 credits, Autumn)
You study key issues in the anthropology of art. The course includes: conflicting definitions of art and aesthetics; modes of seeing within and across cultures; creativity, inspiration and the category of the artist; the body as art; issues of gender and ideology; the politics of the ownership and display of non-Western art works; imaging nationality and ethnicity through art; primitivism and the construction of the other.
AN53019A
Anthropology, Representation & Contemporary Media 2
(4 credits, Spring)
This is a practically based course in which you explore the techniques of video making/photography.
Anthropology, Representation & Contemporary Media 2
(4 credits, Spring)
This is a practically based course in which you explore the techniques of video making/photography.
AN53021A
Anthropology and the Environment
(4 credits, Spring)
You consider ethnobiology; landscapes; art and the environment; the country and the city; ecological traditions in anthropology; the politics of ecology; indigenous peoples and resource management; ecodiscourse and new social movements; developmentalism; indigenous rights; and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Please contact the International Office to confirm that the course is running.
Anthropology and the Environment
(4 credits, Spring)
You consider ethnobiology; landscapes; art and the environment; the country and the city; ecological traditions in anthropology; the politics of ecology; indigenous peoples and resource management; ecodiscourse and new social movements; developmentalism; indigenous rights; and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
Please contact the International Office to confirm that the course is running.
AN53023A
The Anthropology of Development
(4 credits, Autumn)
You study the history of development and its institutions – from NGOs to the World Bank and IMF, while considering diverse case studies from around the world. You will also explore the historical role of anthropology’s involvement in development, as official mediators between ‘the West and the rest’ through imperial conquest, colonial administration and a post-war development industry.
The Anthropology of Development
(4 credits, Autumn)
You study the history of development and its institutions – from NGOs to the World Bank and IMF, while considering diverse case studies from around the world. You will also explore the historical role of anthropology’s involvement in development, as official mediators between ‘the West and the rest’ through imperial conquest, colonial administration and a post-war development industry.
AN53024B
Gender Theory in Practice
(4 credits, Spring)
Drawing on the literature of both the anthropology of development and feminist anthropology, you examine central debates about changing gender relations in connection with issues such as the role of the state.
Gender Theory in Practice
(4 credits, Spring)
Drawing on the literature of both the anthropology of development and feminist anthropology, you examine central debates about changing gender relations in connection with issues such as the role of the state.
AN53026B
Anthropology and Gender Theory
(4 credits, Autumn)
This course aims to explore the interrelationships of gender, sexuality and the body by bringing together ideas from contemporary Western social/cultural theory (including psychoanalytic, feminist and queer theories), detailed ethnographic and historical case studies, and some classic anthropological theories and issues. In doing this, we explore the ways in which the body, gender and sexuality have been produced/ imagined in different ways.
Anthropology and Gender Theory
(4 credits, Autumn)
This course aims to explore the interrelationships of gender, sexuality and the body by bringing together ideas from contemporary Western social/cultural theory (including psychoanalytic, feminist and queer theories), detailed ethnographic and historical case studies, and some classic anthropological theories and issues. In doing this, we explore the ways in which the body, gender and sexuality have been produced/ imagined in different ways.
AN53028A
Anthropology of Europe
(4 credits, Spring)
You study Europe as an ideological, cultural and historical formation. Some of the main themes of the course are: migration, ethnicity and racism; social exclusion; European capitalisms, informal economy and flexible production; nation, state, and suprastate; ‘discourses’ and ‘cultures’ of violence and terrorism; the ethnography of public and private domains; and democracy, citizenship and participation.
Anthropology of Europe
(4 credits, Spring)
You study Europe as an ideological, cultural and historical formation. Some of the main themes of the course are: migration, ethnicity and racism; social exclusion; European capitalisms, informal economy and flexible production; nation, state, and suprastate; ‘discourses’ and ‘cultures’ of violence and terrorism; the ethnography of public and private domains; and democracy, citizenship and participation.
AN53037B
Anthropology of Human-Animal Relations
(4 credits, Autumn)
You consider human-animal relations, within topics such as totemism; domestication; classification; selective breeding; hunter-prey relations; animals in art/literature/movies; xeno-transplantation; cloned animals; pet-keeping; monsters and other imaginary animals; and animal rights.
Anthropology of Human-Animal Relations
(4 credits, Autumn)
You consider human-animal relations, within topics such as totemism; domestication; classification; selective breeding; hunter-prey relations; animals in art/literature/movies; xeno-transplantation; cloned animals; pet-keeping; monsters and other imaginary animals; and animal rights.
AN53039A
Anthropology of Rights
(4 credits, Spring)
You critically engage with the full spectrum of rights discourses, considering not only the language of Human Rights found in international law, but also the cross-cutting – and often competing – claims made in the name of gender and child rights, indigenous rights, cultural property, intellectual property, bioethics, customary law and cosmopolitan law.
Anthropology of Rights
(4 credits, Spring)
You critically engage with the full spectrum of rights discourses, considering not only the language of Human Rights found in international law, but also the cross-cutting – and often competing – claims made in the name of gender and child rights, indigenous rights, cultural property, intellectual property, bioethics, customary law and cosmopolitan law.