HIST283-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017

Ethnicity and History

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 17 July 2017
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2017
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 28 July 2017
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 13 October 2017

Description

This course provides a critical introduction to the historical and anthropological study of ethnicity, race and migration, with a particular emphasis on New Zealand.

ANTH223/HIST283/MAOR230/PACS204/SOCI223 provides a critical introduction to the historical and anthropological study of ethnicity, race, nationalism, genocide, indigeneity, migration, assimilation, identity and the nation-state. The first part of the course draws on material from North America, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand to find ways in which we might analyse these ideas or themes in different times and places. We examine some of the main theoretical approaches to ethnicity and carry out a structured controversy exercise that allows us to apply these frameworks to a particular problem. After the mid-term break, we extend the course themes in a 'hands-on' way through local case studies that bring together 'the field and the archive'.

Our focus in both sections of ANTH223/HIST283/MAOR230/PACS204/SOCI223 is on:

(a) ways we might investigate concrete issues such as racism, ethnic violence, cultural survival, ethnic incorporation, nationalism, identity, migration, assimilation, diaspora and transnationalism

(b) the kinds of questions that confront those of us engaged in the historical, anthropological and sociological study of ethnicity. Does ethnicity matter? If so, when does it become important? How does it work in everyday life? What is the relationship between ethnicity and other kinds of social identification such as class, religion, gender and locality? How can we account for the complex layering of ethnic identities? What is the connection between ethnicity and culture? Why ethnicity?

Learning Outcomes

COURSE GOAL
This course aims to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions about ethnicity and to explore ways that we might understand, explain and compare ethnic phenomena in the past and in the contemporary world.

This course will enable each participant to:

-   consider the value of ethnicity as a conceptual tool for the study of everyday life
-   critically evaluate different approaches to ethnicity and nationalism
-   complete a research essay that applies frameworks developed in the course to
    the study of ethnicity in a specific historical context
-   reflect on course texts and learning experiences in a personal journal
-   contribute effectively in group and cooperative work
-   develop an appreciation for anthropology’s historical imagination


Note: The correct pre-requisites for this course are as follows: 'Either 15 points in HIST with a B grade or better, or 30 points in HIST or Ancient History (CLAS111, CLAS112) with a passing grade. Alternatively, a B average in 60 points in appropriate courses with the approval of the Head of School.' Please ignore the ones below.

Prerequisites

Either 15 points in HIST at B grade or better or 30 points in HIST or Ancient History (CLAS111, CLAS112) with a passing grade. Alternatively, a B average in 60 points.

Restrictions

ANTH223, MAOR230, PACS204, SOCI223

Equivalent Courses

ANTH223, MAOR230, PACS204, SOCI223

Course Coordinator

Lyndon Fraser

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Structured Controversy Exercise 20%
Research Essay 40%
Learning Journal 40%

Textbooks / Resources

The required readings for the course will be available on LEARN.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $732.00

International fee $2,975.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All HIST283 Occurrences

  • HIST283-17S2 (C) Semester Two 2017