Imagined Societies

Subject 136-431 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

4 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

Semester 2, - Taught on campus.

Pre-teaching Period Start	not applicable
Teaching Period	not applicable
Assessment Period End	not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol	not applicable
Census Date	not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail	not applicable

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.

Time Commitment:

Contact Hours: A 2-hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: 2 contact hours/week, 8 additional hours/week. Total of 10 hours per week.

Prerequisites:

Admission to 4th year honours or postgraduate diploma in Anthropology and Social Theory, the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year combined honours in Social Theory, or a masters program and permission of the subject coordinator.

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

None

Non Allowed Subjects:

None

Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Dr John Daniel Cash

Contact

Dr John Cash

johndc@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject critically engages with questions regarding the place of subjectivity in the constitution and organisation of social and political relations, at both the theoretical and empirical levels. It involves the study of political subjectivities, including race, gender and ethnicity. By engagement with such theorists as Lacan, Castoriadis, Kristeva, Foucault, Giddens and Habermas, the subject highlights the place of the imaginary and the unconscious in the formation of ideologies and subjectivities. Students who complete this subject should possess knowledge of some major contemporary debates regarding the formation and organisation of subjectivities; an understanding of the centrality of subjectivity to the organisation of social and political relations; an awareness of the difficulties associated with analysing subjectivities in late or postmodernity; and an acquaintance with some attempts to bring contemporary theories of subjectivity to the study of empirical cases.
Objectives:	Students who successfully complete this subject will possess knowledge of some major contemporary debates regarding the formation, structuration and organisation of subjectivities; possess an understanding of the centrality of subjectivity to the organisation of social and political relations; possess an awareness of some contemporary approaches to the study of political subjectivities including ethnicity, race and gender; possess an awareness of the difficulties associated with analysing subjectivities in high or post-modernity; possess an acquaintance with some attempts to bring contemporary theories of subjectivity to the study of empirical cases, be these individuals, institutions, groups or societies.
Assessment:	An oral presentation of a 600 word seminar paper 10%, a research essay of 4400 words (due during the examination period), class participation and contribution 10%.
Prescribed Texts:
Breadth Options:	This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	develop skills in written and oral communication; conduct independent research; make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument; form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.
Notes:	Formerly available as 136-082 and 136-534. Students who have completed 136-082 or 136-534 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.
Related Course(s):	Master of Development Studies (Gender & Development)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Anthropology Anthropology and Social Theory Gender Studies Social Theory Social Theory Social Theory Sociology Sociology Sociology

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