Theories of Modernity

This subject is not offered in 2014.

Total of 120 hours

Students enrolling in this subject must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent.

For the purposes of considering request 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/

In this subject images of the "city", "progress", "the public" and "the nation" will be used to establish some of the features of modernity. The way modernity is understood will also be explored through various critical theories of modernity. Students completing this subject should have developed an understanding of the major conceptual debates concerning the meaning of modernity, gained an awareness of the selected philosophical and theoretical traditions through which this debate has been generated, and demonstrated this understanding through a critical engagement with the historical and theoretical literature.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have knowledge of the major ideas and theories of classical and contemporary social theory with particular reference to the modernity debate;
• have background in social theory on which to base further research and study in the area;
• have experience of thinking systematically about difficult intellectual problems of an abstract nature;
• have practice conducting research, speaking articulately, writing clearly and reading with attention to detail;
• have experience with methods of critical analysis and argument employed in this area of social theory, leading to improved general reasoning and analytical skills;
• develop an understanding of the major conceptual debates concerning the meaning of modernity;
• gain an awareness of the selected philosophical and theoretical tradition, through which this debate has been generated;
• demonstrate this understanding through a critical engagement with the historical and theoretical literature.

A class paper of 1000 words (45%) due a fortnight after the class paper is presented in the seminar, and an essay of 4000 words (55%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

• The City (M. Weber)
• The Philosophy of Money (G.Simmel)
• Discipline and Punish (M. Foucault)

• All that is Solid Melts into Air (M. Berman)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• 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.