The accelerating complexity and diversity of urban life has been a central concern of social and cultural anthropology since the early twentieth century. In the context of increasing global interconnectedness, contemporary urban research must address the process of urbanites’ dwelling: moving, knowing and skilling. This means, how urban dwellers navigate and respond to multiple, often distant socio-material phenomena that shape their everyday realities.
This course introduces students to key perspectives, concepts, and methodological approaches in urban anthropology. Through fieldwork trips and excursions across Prague, students will engage with various urban environments—such as multicultural neighborhoods, modernist districts, urban “non-places,” green corridors, and infrastructures—through the lens of ethnography. Emphasis will be placed on developing research practices, ethical awareness, and methodological sensitivity in studying the anthropology of the city.
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
The accelerating complexity and diversity of urban life has been a central concern of social and cultural anthropology since the early twentieth century. In the context of increasing global interconnectedness, contemporary urban research must address the assemblage of dynamic flows of migration, transportation, ideas, and goods. Anthropological inquiry emphasizes how urban dwellers navigate and respond to multiple, often distant socio-material phenomena that shape their everyday realities.
This course introduces students to key perspectives, concepts, and methodological approaches in urban anthropology. Through fieldwork trips and excursions across Prague, students will engage with various urban environments—such as multicultural neighborhoods, segregated districts, urban “non-places,” green corridors, and infrastructures—through the lens of ethnography. Emphasis will be placed on developing research practices, ethical awareness, and methodological sensitivity in studying the anthropology of the city.
Last update: Lehečka Michal, Mgr., Ph.D. (14.10.2025)
Course completion requirements -
Attendance:
One absence maximum
Course grading (40 points maximum) consists of:
Exercises & Homework (50%)
The course combines fieldwork practice and in-class lectures and discussions. Students will conduct various fieldwork & qualitative analysis (4 in total, 6 points each) exercises connected with the participant observation in urban spaces.
Participation (12,5%)
Class will meet once in two weeks. Students should contribute by asking questions, answering questions, or otherwise constructively contributing to class discussions. If they don't participate, they will not earn these points. (maximum 5 points)
Final essay (37.5%)
Reflexive essay referring both to lessons learned during the semester and outcomes of students' fieldwork research (maximum 15 points). Essays submission (via email) due 25 January 2025)
Grading:
44-39 points = A
38-31 points = B
30-23 points = C
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
Attendance:
One absence maximum
Course grading (40 points maximum) consists of:
Exercises & Homework (50%)
The course combines fieldwork practice and in-class lectures and discussions. Students will conduct various fieldwork & qualitative analysis (4 in total, 6 points each) exercises connected with the participant observation in urban spaces.
Participation (12,5%)
Class will meet once in two weeks. Students should contribute by asking questions, answering questions, or otherwise constructively contributing to class discussions. If they don't participate, they will not earn these points. (maximum 5 points)
Final essay (37.5%)
Reflexive essay referring both to lessons learned during the semester and outcomes of students' fieldwork research (maximum 15 points). Essays submission (via email) due 25 January 2025)
Grading:
44-39 points = A
38-31 points = B
30-23 points = C
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
Teaching methods -
Methods:
Lectures, discussions, on-site fieldwork research practice, excursions, video-screenings
Moodle page link: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=14193 (please add a course)
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
Methods:
Lectures, discussions, on-site fieldwork research practice, excursions, video-screenings
Moodle page link: https://dl1.cuni.cz/course/view.php?id=14193 (please add a course)
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
Syllabus -
The course is divided into three modules. Class meets once per two weeks for 150 minutes (each class entails two topics/lectures /activities) – 6 classes consisting of 12 topics.
Module 1 - Urban ethnography overview and perspectives
Class 1:
1) Course introduction, Syllabus details. Qualitative research methods overview. What is Urban Anthropology's position within S & C Anthropology.
2) Ethnographic fieldwork research methods, reflexivity and ethics (making fieldnotes, participant observation, informal interviews etc.).
Module 2- Fieldwork practice
Class 2:
3) On-site fieldwork research practice I. (hybrid suburban area) - urban space mapping, making fieldnotes
4) Fieldwork experience reflection. Archaeology of decay & violence of urban planning
Class 3:
5) On- site fieldwork research practice II. – gaining attentiveness in urban environment, focus on everyday practices and public space (post- socialist modernist city)
6) Fieldwork experience reflection. Death of the street, production of social space, solid/void spatial dichotomy, Capitalist vs. Socialist spaces
Class 4:
7) On-site fieldwork research practice III. (transportation node, busy urban space). Sensory ethnography in urban space.
8) Fieldwork experience reflection. Appropriation of space. Private/public space dichotomy. Semi-private space. Non-places.
Module 3 – Analysing and presenting the data
Class 5:
9) Analysing the data created in the field (segmentation, coding, interpretation)
10) Coding and segmenting exercise, discussion
Class 6:
11) Research teams final presentations
12) Reflecting on the research experience. Course wrap-up: discussion of outcomes and sharing experience and knowledge gained
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
The course is divided into three modules. Class meets once per two weeks for 150 minutes (each class entails two topics/lectures /activities) – 6 classes consisting of 12 topics.
Module 1 - Urban ethnography overview and perspectives
Class 1:
1) Course introduction, Syllabus details. Qualitative research methods overview. What is Urban Anthropology's position within S & C Anthropology.
2) Ethnographic fieldwork research methods, reflexivity and ethics (making fieldnotes, participant observation, informal interviews etc.).
Module 2- Fieldwork practice
Class 2:
3) On-site fieldwork research practice I. (hybrid suburban area) - urban space mapping, making fieldnotes
4) Fieldwork experience reflection. Archaeology of decay & violence of urban planning
Class 3:
5) On- site fieldwork research practice II. – gaining attentiveness in urban environment, focus on everyday practices and public space (post- socialist modernist city)
6) Fieldwork experience reflection. Death of the street, production of social space, solid/void spatial dichotomy, Capitalist vs. Socialist spaces
Class 4:
7) On-site fieldwork research practice III. (transportation node, busy urban space). Sensory ethnography in urban space.
8) Fieldwork experience reflection. Appropriation of space. Private/public space dichotomy. Semi-private space. Non-places.
Module 3 – Analysing and presenting the data
Class 5:
9) Analysing the data created in the field (segmentation, coding, interpretation)
10) Coding and segmenting exercise, discussion
Class 6:
11) Research teams final presentations
12) Reflecting on the research experience. Course wrap-up: discussion of outcomes and sharing experience and knowledge gained
Last update: Horáčková Karolína, Mgr. (17.08.2026)
