Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2023 - SA 359 D100

Special Topics in Anthropology (A) (4)

Anthropology of the Senses

Class Number: 7734

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 6 – Dec 5, 2023: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    SA 101 or 150 or 201W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores a topic in Anthropology not regularly offered by the department.

COURSE DETAILS:

Sensing Culture: The anthropology of the senses

How do we smell cleanliness? What is the taste of home? How do Christians hear the voice of God, or artisans touch quality? And how do we translate these sensations into text, film, audio, or art? Our senses play an essential role in how we experience the world, interpret our environments, remember past events, and treat each other. They are intertwined with topics as varied as food, embodiment, memory, religious practice, craft and making, racism, colonialism, and death – topics which we will investigate together. In this course, we will look at the ways anthropologists have tried to understand the senses; additionally, we will explore sensory ethnography, and the challenges and possibilities found in translating and describing the senses in written and multi-modal mediums.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Gain familiarity with the anthropology of the senses and the practice of sensory ethnography
  • Design and execute a sensory ethnography project, applying course concepts
  • Integrate multimodal and non-text mediums into ethnographic research and analysis
  • Analyse the role of medium/genre in knowledge dissemination

Grading

  • TCPS2 Certificate Completion 5%
  • Film Response 10%
  • Group Discussion Facilitation 10%
  • Sensory Ethnography Dossier 55%
  • Weekly asynchronous tutorial activities 15%
  • Attendance and participation 5%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved! Follow Facebook and Instagram pages!

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Pink, Sarah. Doing Sensory Ethnography. London; Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2009.

Additional weekly readings and audio/visual material available through Canvas.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.