2024-2025 / ANTH0003-1

Anthropology of moods and communication

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in human and social sciences (New programme)5 crédits 
 Advanced Master in Gender Studies5 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...) (Faculty of social sciences)5 crédits 
 Bachelor in information and communication5 crédits 
 Master in French and Romance languages and literature : French as a foreign language, teaching focus5 crédits 
 Master in French and Romance languages and literatures : French as a foreign language, professional focus5 crédits 

Lecturer

Véronique Servais

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The anthropology of communication is the study of interaction and communication structures within human communities. It involves a method (the ethnographic method in the broad sense) and objects. These are extremely varied, from the structure of communication events in a classroom to the uses of specific forms of language in ritual, for example. This course is particularly interested in affects and emotions as they are constructed through social and discursive practices. 

The course begins with a presentation of the theoretical currents contributing to the anthropology of communication. This is followed by a presentation of fieldwork methodologies  and then of different research studies that are examples of anthropology of the communication of affects and feelings.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

There are two main objectives : 1- The student must understand and have a good mastery of the approach of Antrhopology of Communication, its objectives and its analytical tools; 2- The student must develop an ability for the objective and subjective observation of close (vs exotic) realities. He will learn to develop a detached gaze on his/her surrounding world in order to keep his/her distances from common sense interpretations of the social world.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The student must have previously passed the Théories de la Communication course.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The first part of the course is intended to establish theoretical and methodological benchmarks about anthropology of communication.

Students must realize, alone or in small groups, fieldwork observation for 15 to 20 hours. The fieldwork will be the basis for the evaluation (see "evaluation").

This fieldwork is supported by specific practical sessions (TP). Attendance at these sessions is highly recommended, as they provide concrete help in carrying out the fieldwork. 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face teaching. The course is made of several 2-hour sessions, according to the schedule. After that, sessions in small groups take place to discuss the difficulties that arise during the fieldwork. The course will take place during the winter semester. The practical training aims at concrete help and individualised supervision of the fieldwork. 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

IA portfolio of recommended or mandatory readings is made available to students via a downloadable folder. It also includes instructions and a course outline.

Written work / report


Additional information:

The evaluation will take into account the mastery of theoretical and analytical tools of anthropology of communication and the observation skills. The written account of the fieldwork will be the basis for the evaluation. This report will have the formal characteristics of a scientific paper, with a theoretical introduction, the presentation of the observational data and a discussion.  Precise evaluation criteria will figure in the instructions document that wil be delivered in due time.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

   

Contacts

secretariat.fass@uliege.be

Véronique Servais (v.servais@uliege.be)

TP: Nolwen Vouiller (nvouiller@uliege.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs