ETBB142 Critical ethnological reading

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Mgr. Oto Polouček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Chovancová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Mgr. Oto Polouček, Ph.D.
Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Martina Maradová
Supplier department: Department of European Ethnology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each odd Wednesday 14:00–15:40 J31
Prerequisites (in Czech)
ETBA124 Field Research
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 12 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 10/12, only registered: 0/12, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/12
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The study of professional literature represents one of the basic pillars of scientific research work. An essential part of the bachelor's study of ethnology is the reading of published texts based on the authors' empirical research, but also the study of publications summarizing scientific knowledge and formulating fundamental and influential ideas. Reading not only deepens one's professional interest but also strengthens the competence of planning one's own research and its subsequent processing and publication. The subject is therefore based on the controlled reading of ethnological texts, which represent examples of good publication practice and present the results of ethnological research in an accessible form for undergraduate students. It does not always have to be the most fundamental, most influential text in the field. However, these are texts that thematize key theoretical, methodological or ethical questions connected with the work of an ethnologist. These are texts that deal with, among other things, the issue of planning and implementing field research, researcher self-reflection, building relationships during research, or the issue of memory, remembering and forgetting in the context of studying the past. Students will read selected texts as part of the course and then discuss them in seminars.
Learning outcomes
Students will deepen their ability to think critically about ethnological texts, while at the same time broadening their awareness of good publishing practices and the possibilities of processing data from research. In addition, the study of selected texts and discussions about them will bring them valuable stimuli for planning their own research.
Syllabus
  • 1) introductory seminar (including the assignment of the first book to read), 2) meetings every 14 days: the teacher always presents the texts to the students that they will read and puts them into context, 3) individual reading of specific passages of texts from selected books (always approx. 20-40 pages), students will read 5 texts in total, 4) submission of a brief summary of the basic ideas of the read text (0.5 pages) – preparation for the seminar, 5) group discussion about the texts read at the seminar, a total of 6 seminars will be held: introductory seminar + 5 seminars with discussion of the texts, 6) students choose one text that appealed to them the most. They will read the entire book and prepare a seminar paper on it. The seminar work will reflect the content of the book, but at the same time, students will think about its overlap with their own research interests or life experiences.
Literature
  • RABINOW, Paul. Reflexe terénního výzkumu v Maroku. Edited by Robert Neelly Bellah - Pierre Bourdieu, Translated by Michaela Konopí. Vydání první. Praha: Malvern, 2020, 166 stran. ISBN 9788075302311. info
  • PORTELLI, Alessandro. Smrt Luigiho Trastulliho a jiné příběhy : forma a význam v orální historii. Translated by Jana Tomečková. První české vydání. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2020, 336 stran. ISBN 9788024645506. URL info
  • MACHOVÁ, Barbora. Bitovo. Každodenní život v makedonských horách. 1st ed. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2016, 300 pp. Etnologické studie, sv. 20. ISBN 978-80-210-8330-1. Online knihkupectví Munipress info
  • LE ROY LADURIE, Emmanuel. Montaillou, okcitánská vesnice v letech 1294-1324. Translated by Irena Neškudlová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2005, 627 s. ISBN 8072036335. info
  • HAUKANES, Haldis. Velká dramata - obyčejné životy : postkomunistické zkušenosti českého venkova. Translated by Pavel Šlégr. Vydání první. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2004, 187 stran. ISBN 8086429261. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, readings, group discussion
Assessment methods
Active participation in seminars (max. 2 absences), written preparations for the seminar (min. 4 handed in), final seminar paper (5-10 standard pages).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
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