Psychoanalysis and Social Theory

Subject SOTH30004 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points:

12.50

Level:

3 (Undergraduate)

Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, 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: Ten 1-hour lectures and ten 2-hour seminars
Total Time Commitment: An average of 8.5 hours each week.

Prerequisites:

Usually 25 points of second year Arts subjects

Corequisites:

None

Recommended Background Knowledge:

136074 Modernity Revolution to Social Movements, 136-076 Social Theory & Political Analysis or another 2nd year Anthropology and Social Theory Subject.

Subject

Study Period Commencement:

Credit Points:

SOTH20002 Modernity Revolution to Social Movements

Semester 1

12.50

136-076 Social Theory and Political Analysis

Not offered in 2010

12.50

Non Allowed Subjects:

Formerly available as 136-260/136-360 and as a 2nd level subject as 136-077 Students who have completed 136-077 or 136-260 or 136-360 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

Associate Professor John Cash

johndc@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	Psychoanalysis has informed and influenced contemporary social theory in manifold ways. Psychoanalysis has been central to theorising the decentred subject, it has radically affected conceptualisations of ideology, thrown reason under radical suspicion and has contributed to a better understanding of identities. including identities of nation, race, gender and ethnicity. This subject investigates these issues in the context of a consideration of texts by Freud, Klein, Lacan, Kristeva, Adorno, Fromm, Habermas, Zizek, Mitchell, Giddens and Althusser. Students who complete this subject should gain a sound knowledge of some major traditions in psychoanalytic theory, particularly Freudian, Kleinian and Lacanian, and should come to possess an awareness of why social theory has been drawn to psychoanalysis in order to analyse subjectivities, group processes, intergroup relations, ideological formations, and forms of reason.
Objectives:	Students who successfully complete this subject should... possess knowledge of some major traditions in psychoanalytic theory. particularly Freudian, Kleinian and Lacanian. possess knowledge of some major traditions of social theory and their appropriations of psychoanalysis. possess an understanding of the place of psychoanalysis within certain forms of feminist theory. possess an awareness of why social theory has been drawn to psychoanalysis for the purpose of both theorising and analysing subjectivity, group processes, intergroup relations, ideological formations, and forms of reason. possess an understanding of the ways in which social theory has turned to psychoanalysis in order to develop methods of analysis which may be used in the study of empirical cases, be these individual or social. possess an awareness of the centrality of psychoanalysis to the contemporary human sciences.
Assessment:	An oral presentation of a 400-word tutorial paper 10%, an essay of 1600 words 30% (due mid-semester), a second essay of 2000 words 50% (due during the examination period), class participation and contribution 10%.
Prescribed Texts:	A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Book Shop.
Breadth Options:	This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses: Bachelor of Biomedicine Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Environments Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Engineering You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	Students who successfully complete this subject will: develop skills in written and oral communication. be able to conduct independent research. be able to make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument. be able to form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting arguments.
Links to further information:	http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/social-theory/
Notes:	This subject is offered in alternate years.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Anthropology && Social Theory Anthropology and Social Theory Anthropology and Social Theory Gender Studies Gender Studies Gender Studies Major History and Philosophy of Science Major Philosophy and Social Theory Social Theory Social Theory Major

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