Module overview
"The Anthropology of Everything" aims to guide students in developing engaged thinking about the various forms of anthropological knowledge production. Serving as a bridge between social and cultural anthropology, archaeology and biological anthropology modules, this module is structured around a fictionalized excavation site, using weekly topics as a springboard into creative anthropological analysis. In this way, the module explores historical and contemporary themes and debates in social and cultural anthropology, providing students with a critical understanding of the diverse theoretical frameworks, methodologies and positionalities that have shaped the discipline. By analyzing ethnographic cases from across the globe, it highlights anthropology’s unique capacity to bridge past, present and future, transcend boundaries and engage with both human and non-human lifeworlds. Building on this foundation, students will engage with classic and emerging theories and concepts grounded in ethnography to examine how anthropological knowledge is produced, circulated and contested.
This module encourages students to think forward, towards innovative ways of applying ethnographic knowledge by understanding that an anthropological framing can elicit insights that can be powerful explanatory tools in many situations, both in their personal and professional lives. Ultimately, this module fosters a deeper appreciation of anthropology’s relevance in addressing pressing global challenges.