Subject Area: Sociology and Anthropology

This course examines the concept of culture and considers the ways in which culture shapes how we relate with the world. We will study systems of signs, communication and the generation of meaning. In doing so, we will confront a central issue in anthropology and sociology: if culture shapes how we think, how can a person from one cultural background understand someone from a different background? The course will consider the practical methods that researchers use to deal with this issue, including ethnographic fieldwork and interviews. On completion of the course, students will have a general understanding of the social and cultural basis of human experience, a familiarity with anthropological and sociological techniques and frameworks, and an appreciation of some major contemporary concerns of these disciplines. This is a Gateway course.