Sylabus
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Anotace
Course description:
Although religion is intimately connected with some of the most pressing issues that continue to confront the world, it has often been treated as a particularly impenetrable domain of human and non-human agency. Relatedly, the term ritual has been used as a catch-all term for anything that archaeologists find to be odd and without immediate functional value. In recent years, however, archaeologists have successfully applied new approaches to the investigation of rituals and their material remains, and have made significant and novel contributions to ritual theory.
In this graduate seminar, we familiarize ourselves with some of the most influential approaches from the past to understand religion. We will examine differences among theories on the archaeology of religion, originary narratives about religion, issues of materiality in connection with mundane practices within religion, and archaeological case studies on religion that draw from a variety of geographical areas, environments, and temporal periods. Topical themes might include: religion in political economy, burial practices, sacrifice, religious art in society, the importance of sacred landscapes and pilgrimage in identity formation, the nature of ritual assemblage, and the meaning of objects in religious practice.
By focusing on contemporary discourses on religion and ritual, this course introduces students to new and emergent literature in Archaeology and in related social science disciplines. Bridging archaeological theories, material evidence, and media materials and technologies, this course will inquire critically into the different ways archaeologists interpret the past.
Assessments:
The course is designed for graduate students who wish to bring a cross-cultural perspective on ritual and religion to bear on their own research on archaeological data or contexts in a particular region. Students are expected to attend all seminar sessions and participate in discussion. After the first month of lectures, classes will be led by students in the class. Each session has a pre-assigned student discussion leader(s) who will lead the discussion and review of the readings. Student discussion leaders will be based on preparation, organization, leadership, and knowledge. The use of handouts, chalk board, overheads, and bringing additional outside information to the seminar is encouraged. In the second half of the semester, students will present their research topics during weeks that seem appropriate. See below for more information on papers and presentations.
Students will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Weekly class participation: 20%
Discussion Leadership: 15%
Research Paper: 50%
Research Presentation: 10%
Research Paper:
The research paper (3000 words) should cover a topic related to aspects of ritual or religion in a specific archaeological context. Possible topic may cover: ritual landscapes, ritual production, sacrifice, burial practices, and votive offerings.
Master students have the option to write a research proposal. In such a case, the ideal proposal will be one that will be competitive for funding from a major research institution. This choice should be made only by those who will, in fact, be submitting a proposal to funding institutions but who do not yet have a viable proposal. Students should consider the topic of their research paper early in the term so that there is enough time to write it.
Presentation:
Students will give presentations of their research or proposal topics during the second half of the term. Discussion leaders should prepare the essential bibliography suggested in the syllabus and lead the discussion with directed questions.