Imagined Societies

Subject SOTH40002 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 4 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 2, Parkville - 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

Standard

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: An average of 10 hours each 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: Knowledge gained in 3 year Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent.
Non Allowed Subjects: 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.
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr John Cash

Contact

Dr John Cash

johndc@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject critically engages with questions regarding the place of subjectivity in the organisation of social and political relations, at both the theoretical and empirical levels. It investigates the ways in which discourses and subjectivities interact. Through critical engagement with such theorists as Freud, Klein, Lacan, Castoriadis, Kristeva, Butler, Zizek, Fanon, Nandy, Beck, Bauman, Giddens and Habermas, the subject highlights the place of the imaginary and the unconscious in the formation of ideologies and subjectivities. Through postcolonial theory issues of colonial and postcolonial identities are explored. Students completing 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 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, structure 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: To be advised
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.
Links to further information: http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/social-theory/
Related Course(s): Master of Arts in Social Theory (Advanced Seminars and Shorter Thesis)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Anthropology
Anthropology and Social Theory
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Gender Studies
Social Theory
Social Theory
Social Theory
Sociology
Sociology
Sociology

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