Anthropolgy of Dance 1

Subject guarantor:

Daniela STAVĚLOVÁ

Name of lecturer(s):

Daniela STAVĚLOVÁ

Learning outcomes of the course unit:

The purpose of the lectures is to understand dance in a cultural and social context. This is a holistic approach to the study of dance where this phenomenon is traced not only as a physical product but, in particular, a cultural process and a particular manner of social activity. The aim of the course is field research focused on tracing various socio-cultural environments. In these contexts dance has an irreplaceable role. The importance in interest, social, ethnic or other group systems are researched and attention is devoted to its cognitive and symbolic dimensions.

Mode of study:

Lecture

Prerequisites and co-requisites:

No requirements. A good bearing in folkdance issues and dance research is expected.

Recommended optional programme components:

No elective requirements.

Course contents:

The presentation proceeds through the following topics:

1. Evolutionism and the beginnings of anthropological thought

2. European sources of anthropological culture theory - E. Durkheim, M. Mauss, Body theory

3. Ameircan cultural anthropology - F. Boas, configurationism of R. Benedikt

4. Functionalism - B. Malinowski, Franziska Boas - The function of dance

5. Structuralism - C. Levi-Strauss, linguistic theory and semiotics - F. de Saussure, N. Chomsky, Dance as a subject of semiotic study

6. Interpretive and post-structuralistic anthropology - C. Geertz

7. Forming the Dance Anthropology discipline - history, theory, methodology

8. Subject of Dance Anthropology study

Recommended or required reading:

Robert F. Murphy: Úvod do kulturní a sociální antropologie. Slon: Praha 1998.

Soukup, Václav: Přehled antropologických teorií kultury. Portál: Praha 2000.

Stavělová, Daniela: Jak se dnes v Čechách tancuje. Otázky taneční antropologie. Národopisná revue 13, 2003, č. 2, s. 67 - 69.

Stavělová, Daniela: Člověk tančící. O potřebě tance ve společnosti. Taneční listy 37, 2000, č. 4, s. 16 - 17.

Frazer, James George: Zlatá ratolest. Mladá fronta: Praha 1994.

Mauss, Marcel: Esej o daru, podobě a důvodech směny v archaických společnostech. Sociologické nakladatelství: Praha 1999.

Mauss, Marcel: Les techiques du corps. Journal de psychologie 32, 1935, č. 3 - 4, s. 271 - 293.

Boas, Franziska: The Function of Dance in Human Society. Dance Horizons: New York 1972

Benedictová, Ruth: Kulturní vzorce. Argo: Praha 1999.

Lévi-Strauss, Claude: Myšlení přírodních národů. Dauphin: Praha 1996.

Geertz, Clifford: Interpretace kultur. Slon: Praha 2000.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods:

Lectures

Assessment methods and criteria:

Credit is awarded based on: Activity in lectures, paper on the studied literature.

Course web page:

Note:

In the 2010/2011 academic year this course is not scheduled.

Schedule for winter semester 2013/2014:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

Schedule for summer semester 2013/2014:

The schedule has not yet been prepared

The subject is a part of the following study plans:

• Obor Pedagogika tance (Mg) (compulsory optional subject)
• Obor Choreografie (Bc) (optional subject)
• Obor Choreografie (Mg) (compulsory optional subject, optional subject)
• Obor Taneční věda (Mg) (compulsory subject of the main qualification)