| CODE | IMS5035 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Rituals and Kinship Patterns | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Institute of Maltese Studies | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will examine kinship patterns and the construction of changing gender identities and power relations. It will also look at Maltese society with special reference to religion (including Catholic Reformation), marriage and death. The study-unit will look at attempts over the centuries, to reform the popular beliefs of the population and popular culture. Special emphasis will be devoted to the development of Festa-Catholicism. Issues of gender and sexuality will also bediscussed.. It will provide an insight of people in everyday life, their hopes, their views, and affections through the use of kinship roles and ties, family honour and violence. Study-unit Aims Maltese culture is saturated with myths, heritage and symbols that are central to kinship and religious rituals Since these rituals haveplayed a fundamental role on Maltese culture and society, the students will be able to gain a proper understanding of a major pillar of Maltese values over time Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Comprehend gender influences, conditions and experiences. A proper understanding of gender patterns, dynamics, and biases can enhance the accuracy and scope of work in many fields of research. Gender awareness benefits individuals, communities and organisations. - Look at religious and family values in their own right and appreciate why ethnic groups like the Maltese have populated their universe with unseen beings and powers and created elaborate rituals which have to be performed correctly if life is to prosper. This includes popular religious beliefs related to healing, curing, witchcraft, festival and death. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Discuss the role of gender and analyse kinship relations. - Evaluate and examine the roles played by belief systems and rituals. Reading lists will be offered by all lecturers. Publications, unless stated, are available at the University Library. Main Texts - Boissevain, J.: Saints and Fireworks: Religion and Politics in Rural Malta, (Berg Publishers, London, 1965) - Cassar, C.: Society, Culture and Identity in Early Modern Malta, (Mireva, Malta, 2000) - Cassar, C.: Daughters of Eve, Women, Gender Roles and the Impact of the Council of Trent in Catholic Malta, (Mireva, Malta, 2002) - Cassar, C.: Honour and shame in the Mediterranean, (Midsea books, Malta, 2003) - Ciappara, F.: Society and the Inquisition in Early Modern Malta, (PEG, Malta, 2001) - Goody, J.R.: The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1983) - Rubin, M.: Mother of God: The History of the Virgin Mary, (Yale University Press, 2009) |
||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Angela Abela Claire Casha Carmel Cassar George Cassar Evelyn Pullicino James Sultana |
||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||