ANTH4610 – Work, Capital, and Business
Course content
This course explores ethnographic insights into the nature of work and organisational relations with particular emphasis on developments in this field in the current century. You are introduced to a variety of theoretical approaches that examine the meaning and the social effects of conceptual separations between spheres of activity such as ‘capital’ and ‘labour’ on the one hand and ‘kinship’ or ‘society’ on the other. Through key readings, you are led to reflect upon the methodological and ethical challenges of conducting ethnographic fieldwork on these topics as part of the final preparation for your own fieldwork.
The course covers a number of key concepts and debates in contemporary anthropological analyses of work, capital and business. It encourages you to develop an understanding of the value of anthropological theory and method which will help you prepare for your own research contribution to this field. The topics covered include
Ethnographic approaches to Capital and Business
Wage-labour and work in the 21st century
Class, kinship and gender relations
Reciprocity and moral obligation in business and work
The role of culture in business
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Overview of anthropological perspectives on key concepts and debates on capital, business and labour
Understanding of their relevance for contemporary academic and public policy debates
Appreciation for ongoing theoretical debates and the ability to relate your own original research to the development of these debates
Skills
Ability to synthesise and critique a variety of theoretical positions and to use this understanding to contribute to the construction of a unique research agenda
Increased ability to reflect critically in writing and in oral presentation on the themes of work, capital, and labour
Essay writing/argument construction skills
General competence
Enhanced skills for independent academic thought
Improved team work capability and group-presentations
The ability to express arguments in solid academic written English (via essay writing and shorter reflection papers) as well as oral presentation
Admission to the course
Students must be enrolled in the master’s programme in Social Anthropology.
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled in the Master's Programme in Social Anthropology, please see our admission requirements and apply, and see the information on application and admission to master's degree programmes at UiO.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about?admission requirements and procedures.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students have to be enrolled in the master’s programme in Social Anthropology, and must have completed ANTH4115 – Advanced Anthropological Theory? and ANTH4125 – Advanced Anthropological Methods and Project Development?.
Alternatively, you must be enrolled in the master’s programme for Social Anthropology, and must have taken ANTH4010-Advanced Anthropological Theory , ANTH4020-Academic Writing and Project Development and ANTH4030-Advanced Anthropological Methods
Teaching
Teaching blocks with a combination of lectures and in-class group discussions moderated by the lecturer.
Compulsory activities:
One mandatory oral presentation and seven short reflection papers on individual lecture content?(minimum 200 and maximum 500 words) will be submitted throughout the semester.
You must have the compulsory activities approved in order to take the exam.
In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.?Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity
Access to teaching:
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
- Three revised versions of the above-mentioned reflection papers (the selection of which will be announced during the last lecture).
- Adjusting oral examination based on these three reflection papers.
The oral examination lasts 20 minutes.
The oral examination will only be held if the three revised reflection papers receive a passing grade.
A passing grade for the three revised reflection papers is a provisional grade. Your performance in the oral exam may be used to adjust the final grade?to a Pass or a Fail.?You will receive your final grade immediately after the oral exam.
Only the final grade will appear on your master's diploma and transcript of records.
All compulsory activities must be approved and the exam passed in the same semester.
Previous exams and assessment guidelines.
Examination support material
For the revised reflection papers:
All support material is allowed. When using AI, you must explain and be transparent about its use: read more about the guidelines for AI and exams at?How to use AI as a student - University of Oslo
For the oral exam:
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.
Also see Grading Guidelines in Social Anthropology.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.