| Unit name | Myth |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ARCHM0088 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Morelli |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Anthropology and Archaeology |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important
This unit provides students with a thorough understanding of anthropological studies of myth, which have been foundational to the development of our discipline. It explores key theories on mythology, knowledge and oral storytelling, from the beginning of anthropology until contemporary works. Crucially, the unit combines teaching these theories with the use of creative storytelling and visual methods. This will enable students to better understand and represent what they learn in the unit through experimental techniques, including drawing, creative storytelling, illustration, puppet making, storyboarding and animation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The unit provides students with a solid grasp of key anthropological theories which are not covered in other parts of the programme. By bridging theory and creative practice, students will gain new valuable skills beyond the learning of academic knowledge.
Overview of content. The unit teaches students key theories on myth in anthropology and beyond. There are 9 weeks of content in total (including an introduction), plus a film-screening week and a revision week. Every week, we will begin by focussing on a specific myth, which we will interpret using different anthropological theories. A one-hour lecture will be followed by a one-hour interactive seminar, where we will use creative methods to represent the myth using the theories we have covered.
Two of the lectures are delivered over the course of two weeks, given the complexity of the topics covered.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The students will be enriched and highly inspired by this unit. They will be able to engage with content that they will not find in other taught units not just in their programme but also in other departments. They will also have a practical understanding of how to engage with and convey theoretical knowledge through a range of creative, experimental methods of research and representation.
Learning Outcomes
1) To learn key theories in the anthropology of myth.
2) To engage with creative storytelling.
3) To develop practice-base skills in visual and experimental methods of research and representation.
4) To develop the ability of conducting interdisciplinary analysis, by bringing the anthropological theories covered in the unit in conversation with works in philosophy, psychology, and other fields.
5) To present an independent research project based on anthropological theory and practice that students will develop throughout the unit.
The unit will explore highly complex theories, both in anthropology and other fields that the students may not be familiar with, such as philosophy, literature, religious studies and psychoanalysis. I will break down these theories to make them accessible, thereby providing students with an invaluable grasp of complex theories and debates. The use of creative methods will teach students how to not just understand but also represent these complex theories into a visual and simple form, thereby maximising their understanding as well as their capacity to convey complex theoretical meaning through creative storytelling.
Every week, students will participate in:
(1) A lecture, where they will learn key theories in the anthropology of myth.
(2) An interactive seminar, where student will learn how to use a variety of methods—including animation, drawing, storyboarding, puppet making, and many others—to engage with the content covered in the first hour.
(3) MA students will take part in a full day of presentations.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Every week, the students will be required to write and bring a working paper to the lecture. This consists of a task where students have to convey a key theory covered in the lectures through the use of creative storytelling, drawing on visual and experimental methods. In the seminar hour, we will discuss their working papers, so that everyone can receive feedback. I use this format in other units and find it highly effective and successful.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A final portfolio consisting of three working papers of their choosing.
M students will have an additional day of presentations, where they will present an independent research project based on anthropological theory and practice that students will develop throughout the unit.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ARCHM0088).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
