Regional Studies (Ethnography): Switzerland (KSK_184)

The course aims to give an overview of the history of Social Anthropology and current anthropological research in Switzerland. Starting from the Romantic Movement in the 19th Century and the bourgeois interest in traditional folk culture, semi-academic societies where founded which tried to save artefacts like objects, literature, folk songs etc. from among the people. Because of industrialisation, modernisation, and serious social transformation, the conservation of folk culture and the invention of traditions, national symbols, and images were seen as a suitable means to create social orientation and stability.
At the turn of the Century, the first academic societies in Anthropology came into existence, which collected artefacts from folk culture on a more empirical basis. University institutes followed and enabled the transfer of anthropological knowledge in academic education and social discourse.
Besides the historical view on important anthropological projects and concepts, the course will focus on current studies and debates originating in this area. Topics like cultural heritage, tourism, migration, urbanism and sensory approaches to Switzerland will be combined with current theoretical and methodological discussions.