RLMgA004 Power, Authority, Tradition

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 9 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jakub Cigán, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc. (lecturer)
PhDr. Iva Doležalová (lecturer)
Mgr. Milan Fujda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Aleš Chalupa, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Radek Kundt, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Kundtová Klocová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Tereza Menšíková (lecturer)
Dr. phil. Anna Michalík Kvíčalová, MA (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course maps different aspects of authority, power, and tradition in religion on different levels of analysis from biological and behavioral to social and cultural accenting distinct theoretical frameworks and methodologies. Within different religious traditions and various cultures, the course explores topics such as identity and otherness, conflict, norm and deviation, tradition and innovation, hierarchy and dominance, the individual and the group. Lectures address these topics within individual case studies of particular material from different areas, periods and environments. Students work on a similar written case study from the thematic scope of the course.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to:
  • approach, scrutinize and discuss complex topics addressed by the course linked to authority, power and tradition;
  • evaluate the theoretical framework and methods used in the analyzed cases;
  • formulate a research project proposal addressing the topics of power, authority, and tradition in connection to the student’s research area;
  • present and defend a paper respecting the requirements of an academic text.
    • Syllabus
    • Approaches to power, authority, tradition (Jakub Cigán)
    • Signalling of power in ritual (Eva Kundtová Klocová)
    • Power of tradition, tradition of power: Religion and gender in medieval Mongolian empire (Jana Valtrová)
    • Heresy and authority in Christianity: Otherness felt and otherness produced (David Zbíral)
    • Between norm and authenticity: Individual autobiographical memory, remembering and social dynamics of becoming a group member (Jakub Cigán)
    • Technological change of the configuration of power and authority: The case of bookprint (Milan Fujda)
    • Visual study in the framework of the academic study of religions I: Mandala and history (Luboš Bělka)
    • Visual study in the framework of the academic study of religions II: How to use visual and textual sources (Luboš Bělka)
    • Religious worship of humans: Roman imperial cult (Aleš Chalupa)
    • Institutional framing and space for agency in life, memory, and record: Valdes of Lyon, Francis of Assisi, Armanno of Ferrara (David Zbíral)
    • Limiting sexual behaviour as a cultural solution to a biological problem (Radek Kundt)
    • Tradition in transition: Religious change, and adaptation of Christian missionaries in Asian cultures (Jana Valtrová)
    Literature
      required literature
    • VIKE, Halvard, 2011. Cultural Models, Power, and Hegemony. In: A Companion to Cognitive Anthropology. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 376–392. ISBN 978-1-4051-8778-7.
    • Další četba dle individuálního projektu. / Further reading depending on the individual project.
    Teaching methods
    Lectures with discussion, discussion about the topics of essays, research project proposal with written feedback from the teachers, essay with written feedback from the teachers.
    Assessment methods
    Research project proposal on a topic congruent with the course’s focus (50 points = 33 %). Carrying out of the proposal in an essay submitted in the exam period (80 points = 53 %). Oral presentation and defence of the essay in the exam period (20 points = 14 %). Participation in the classes (extra points included in the total).
    Language of instruction
    English
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course is taught annually.
    The course is taught: every week.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Enrollment of students from other programmes than M.A. Study of Religions possible only with the agreement of the teachers.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/RLMgA004