All programmes > Urban Anthropology

Urban Anthropology (B-KUL-S0D88D)

6 ECTSEnglish26 First term
De Boeck Filip |  N.
POC Antropologie

Aims

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- situate and explain current themes and questions in the field of urban anthropology;
- explain the key terminology and concepts within this field; 
- situate the central authors and theories in the field of urban anthropology;
- formulate arguments based on these concepts, theories and ideas in an academic debate; 
- search, read and critically analyse articles and texts presenting new approaches and ideas in this field in an interdisciplinary approach.

The course aims will be explained during the first lecture of the course.

Previous knowledge

Students have an academic Bachelor’s degree, preferably in the social sciences, human sciences, humanities, architecture and urban planning.  At the beginning of this course they are therefore able to:
- critically read and analyse theoretical texts independently;
- write an academic text as illustrated in their Bachelor’s paper.

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. Urban Anthropology (B-KUL-S0D88a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture26 First term
De Boeck Filip |  N.
POC Antropologie

Content

The course introduces students to the subfield of urban anthropology using ethnographic examples and texts by authors who play a central role in the demarcation and elaboration of the field.
The course consists of case studies on the city in Africa presented and elaborated in class, and deals with themes such as shadow economy, violence, urban networks, the informal city, the speculative city, visions of modernity, the utopian city or the city as heterotopia/dystopia. 

Course material

The course reader (specifying essential and recommended readings) syllabus, course calendar, course slides, media links and documents will be available on Toledo.
Key books that are part of the essential readings for this course include amongst others:

  • Myers, Garth (2011) African cities: alternative visions of urban theory and practice. London: Zed Books; and
  • Simone, Abdoumaliq (2009) City Life from Jakarta to Dakar: Movements at the Crossroads. New York; London: Routledge
  • Colin McFarlane. 2021. Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds. Berkeley: University of California Press. 8)
  • Michele Lancione and Colin McFarlane (Eds.). 2021. Global Urbanism. Knowledge, Power and the City. Abingdon / New York: Routledge.
  • Ash Amin and Michele Lancione (Eds).2022. Grammars of the Urban Ground. Durham: Duke University Press.

Key books will be on hold in the library (SBIB) under 'BASIS'.

 

Format: more information

The professor introduces students to classic and contemporary themes and cases in urban anthropology.
Students
- follow the lectures and actively participate in discussions, question rounds and debates during classes
- are expected to have critically read essential texts in preparation of lectures, distilled arguments from the texts to ask questions during the class discussions.
- practise

  • linking the cases presented in class with course readings from different authors and themes,
  • searching for examples in preparation of their final research paper,
  • critically reflecting on cutting-edge issues in the field of urban anthropology.

 

 

Evaluation

Evaluation: Urban Anthropology (B-KUL-S2D88d)

Type : Continuous assessment without exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Paper/Project

Explanation


The course is evaluated by the course instructor as communicated on Toledo and in the exam regulations. Scores are always represented with whole numbers on a scale from 0 to 20, with 10 being the passing grade.

The paper consists of about 5000-6000 words, excluding references. 

Students are expected to present a topic of their own choice mid-November. The exact deadline is announced in class and in the syllabus on Toledo.
The topic has to be related to the issues presented throughout the course (see lectures, lecture notes, reading lists or reader).
Students are expected to demonstrate that they are capable of developing and reflecting on the issues dealt with throughout the course in a personal and creative way.
Students are expected to be able to select, use and present texts from the reader and secondary literature which relate to the texts discussed in class. The written assignment will be evaluated for content, quality of writing, and format. The student should use standard written language. 

A soft copy (preferably in PDF-format) needs to be uploaded on Toledo under Assignments. The student’s name and the course number should be mentioned on both versions.
Deadlines for the final paper are not negotiable. In case of exceptional, individual circumstances, students can contact the ombuds concerning the deadline. Papers submitted after the deadline will receive an NA (not attended) score and will be considered for the next examination period.

*Students are fully responsible for submitting papers and assignments free of fraud and plagiarism (www.kuleuven.be/english/education/plagiarism/) and are requested to observe the Faculty’s relevant regulations.  Plagiarism will be sanctioned with the sanctions mentioned in the University’s Regulations on Education and Examinations (http://www.kuleuven.be/education/regulations/).