AN3008 - Myth and Ritual
[Offered in even-numbered years]
| Credit points: | 03 |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Student Contribution Band: | Band 1 |
| Administered by: | College of Arts, Society & Education |
This subject introduces students to the world of myth, ritual and religion: aspects of human culture that are vital to the construction of self and identity as well as to the nature of the imaginative engagement between people and their worlds. Myth and ritual are universal features of human thought and practice and as such they reveal critical insights into the nature of human beings. Through the careful analysis of myths and rituals from different cultural contexts, the subject explores vital and perennial topics of Anthropology. The subject explores why people create and articulate myths, the importance of myths for the understanding of what it means to be human, and the significance of common themes evident in myths from different cultural, geographical and historical contexts. The subject explores the importance of ritual as a special type of human individual and collective practice. The subject includes an exploration of the aesthetics of ritual symbolism, the power of ritual objects, and ritual performances, such as expressed through theatre, music and dance. It explores such phenomena as initiation rites, state rituals, trance, sacrifice, spirit possession, shamanism and sorcery.
Learning Outcomes
- identify and discuss the major anthropological approaches to myth, ritual and religion;
- use anthropological concepts and theories to critically analyse myths, rituals and religious practices from different cultural contexts;
- evaluate the ways that religious beliefs and practices relate to other social institutions such as the state and the market;
- apply anthropological research methods to the analysis of ritual and religious practices.
| Assumed Knowledge: | To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level |
| Inadmissible Subject Combinations: | AN2008 AND SY2049 AND SY3049 |
Availabilities | |
| Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1 | |
| Census Date 22-Mar-2018 | |
| Coordinator: | Dr Robin Rodd |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); essays (40%). |
| Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1 | |
| Census Date 22-Mar-2018 | |
| Coordinator: | Dr Michael Wood |
| Contact hours: |
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| Assessment: | end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); essays (40%). |
Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.