Representation, as a form of verbal and non-verbal communication, is at the core of what constitutes culture (cf. Stuart Hall), which is why it is also of a central concern to cultural and social anthropologists. Moreover, representation not only ‘communicates’ information, but also affects thought and action and creates reality (cf. Hall, Boroditsky), or if stated in the language of the performative, it can ‘do’ things (cf. Austin): it can affect minds and bodies of individuals, as well as shape public opinion, political decisions, laws, social hierarchies, and discriminatory practices. Students have an opportunity in this BA/MA course to study various theories of representation, as well as to engage in a practical analysis and deconstruction of diverse representational discourses as related to representations of race/class/gender/sexuality/nationality/ideology in film, media, news, music video, music performance, art, science, museums, political rituals, sports, and ethnography. Students are expected to engage in weekly reading and writing assignments, participate in class discussions, prepare one in-class presentation related to their research interests, and submit a seminar paper at the end of the course. We will also visit one museum/exhibition together (if there will be no Covid-19 restrictions). Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the class will be offered in an online form, through this MS Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/channel/19%3af2aabdb942224b5aa085e76f7673e3f1%40thread.tacv2/General?groupId=7d6ce0ca-cc2f-48a8-8abf-7831ec0ce510&tenantId=e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2

Representation, as a form of verbal and non-verbal communication, is at the core of what constitutes culture (cf. Stuart Hall), which is why it is also of a central concern to cultural and social anthropologists. Moreover, representation not only ‘communicates’ information, but also affects thought and action and creates reality (cf. Hall, Boroditsky), or if stated in the language of the performative, it can ‘do’ things (cf. Austin): it can affect minds and bodies of individuals, as well as shape public opinion, political decisions, laws, social hierarchies, and discriminatory practices. Students have an opportunity in this BA/MA course to study various theories of representation, as well as to engage in a practical analysis and deconstruction of diverse representational discourses as related to representations of race/class/gender/sexuality/nationality/ideology in film, media, news, music video, music performance, art, science, museums, political rituals, sports, and ethnography. Students are expected to engage in weekly reading and writing assignments, participate in class discussions, prepare one in-class presentation related to their research interests, and submit a seminar paper at the end of the course. We will also visit one museum/exhibition together (if there will be no Covid-19 restrictions). Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the class will be offered in an online form, through this MS Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/channel/19%3af2aabdb942224b5aa085e76f7673e3f1%40thread.tacv2/General?groupId=7d6ce0ca-cc2f-48a8-8abf-7831ec0ce510&tenantId=e09276da-f934-4086-bf08-8816a20414a2