13952

The Origin of Writing in Eurasia: Anthropological Perspectives

Cale Johnson

Zusätzl. Angaben / Voraussetzungen

For this course, please enrol via Campus Management. If this is not be possible, enrol via the form "Modul-, Lehrveranstaltungs- und Prüfungsanmeldung" when you decide to take the course. You can find the form on the website of the Studienbüro Geschkult. Please submit this document to the Studienbüro within the same time frame you would have to enrol in your courses via Campus Management. The workload of the course equals: attendance 30 hours, preparation and wrap-up 90 hours, exam preparation and exam 120 hours. For a term paper you need to write 5000 words. By attending also the companion course “13953 – Late Uruk Notational Practices” the workload equals 450 hours. For questions regarding credits you will have to approach your BA- or MA advisor of your study program." Please register also via email: wissensgeschichte@geschkult.fu-berlin.de Schließen

Kommentar

This lecture combines an introduction to the history of de novo writing in ancient Eurasia (Mesopotamia, Egypt and China) with anthropological perspectives on notation and writing systems. We will look at how notation has structured human consciousness over time, as well as how interactions between notation and cognition have led to new levels and types of human awareness. One of the main goals will be to build bridges between students focusing on ancient writing systems and others with an interest in anthropological or semiotic theories. As we move through the course, we will increasingly focus on models of textuality and how large-scale textual structures are organised, including bureaucracies, ring structures and mise en abyme constructions. This lecture combines an introduction to the history of de novo writing in the ancient world (Mesopotamia, Egypt and China) with elements of discourse analysis and semiotics. We will look at how notation has structured human consciousness and thought over time, as well as how interactions between notation and cognition have led to new levels and types of metapragmatic awareness. One of the main goals will be to build bridges between students focusing on ancient writing systems and others with an interest in semiotics and anthropological theories. The first part of the course will focus on the origins of writing systems, while the second part will look at models of textuality and poetics and how large-scale textual structures (such as ring epics, compendia, or encyclopedias) are organized. No knowledge of any ancient languages or writing systems is required, but there will be substantial reading of secondary literature from several disciplines. This course will be taught in English.This lecture combines an introduction to the history of de novo writing in the ancient world (Mesopotamia, Egypt and China) with elements of discourse analysis and semiotics. We will look at how notation has structured human consciousness and thought over time, as well as how interactions between notation and cognition have led to new levels and types of metapragmatic awareness. One of the main goals will be to build bridges between students whose interests focus on ancient writing systems and others with an interest in semiotics and anthropological theories. The first part of the course will focus on the origins of writing systems, while the second part will look at models of textuality and poetics and how large-scale textual structures (such as ring epics, compendia, or encyclopedias) are organized. No knowledge of any ancient languages or writing systems is required, but there will be substantial reading of secondary literature from several disciplines. This course will be taught in English. Schließen