Rural Dwellings and Urban Anthropology

This lecture explores the study of rural dwellings in France, focusing on the intellectual project 'Chantier 1425' to document rural architecture. It delves into the work of Georges Henri Rivière and the concept of 'ecomuseum'. Additionally, it discusses the in-depth anthropological investigation of French rural architecture, the organization of data, and the societal implications of different house structures. The lecture also covers the urban anthropology in France, highlighting the birth of this field and key anthropologists like Claude Meillassoux and Henri Lefebvre. It examines the social dynamics in urban areas, the reconstitution of specific communities, and the identity of the city. The session concludes by emphasizing the importance of urban anthropology in critiquing colonialism, structuralism, and functionalism, and its role in providing a new perspective on contemporary societies.