Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
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 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Intermediate (FHEQ level 5) |
| Period: |
Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
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| Description:
| Aims: 1. To introduce students to debates around the status of the body in sociology. 2. To develop an understanding of the major intellectual debates that guide the study of the body and body-related processes and practices in sociology. 3. To apply the tools of sociological investigation toward researching the body in the everyday social world. 4. To examine the social and discursive forces that shape the body. 5. To explore the complex interface between the biological and social body. 6. To examine theories of embodiment in relation to identity construction; gender and sexuality; 'Race' and ethnicity; consumption and body projects; the life-course; aging and dying; disability and the 'spoiled' body; emotion; representation; risk and transgression. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this unit students should be able to: 1. Outline the history of the body as 'an absent presence' in sociology. 2. Understand the relationship between embodiment, biology and culture. 3. Identify key philosophical perspectives and their approaches to understanding the body in society. 4. Understand the role of the body in articulating identities. 5. Understand the changing role and status of the body over the life-course. 6. Identify the ways that the body can be said to be socially constructed. 7. Critique social constructionist theories. 8. Understand the relationship between the body, power and discourse. Skills: Intellectual skills * To think creatively and analytically. * To outline and evaluate theoretical arguments. * To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. * To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.). * To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge. * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding. Professional Practical Skills: * To develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others. Transferable/Key Skills * Inter-personal and communication skills * To identify how theory in this field links to, or builds upon, existing theories and perspectives. * To understand debates around epistemological problems and social theory and research. * To construct a bibliography of varying complexity * Time-management and administrative skills * To reflect upon his/her own academic and professional performance and take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development. Content: This unit will introduce students to one of the most exciting fields of study in contemporary sociology. The unit will commence with an overview of the status of the body in sociology. We will look at some of the mutual hostilities between the biological and the social sciences, assessing the impact this has had on sociology's ability to adequately theorise embodiment. Over the course of the unit we will explore theories of embodiment in relation to identity construction; gender and sexuality; 'Race' and ethnicity; consumption and body projects; the life-course; aging and dying; disability and the 'spoiled' body; emotion; representation and risk and transgression. We will assess theoretical contributions and research from the disciplines of philosophy, sociology and the biological sciences. Finally we evaluate recent developments neuroscientific research which provides a persuasive account of the complex relationship between the biological and social self. |
| Programme availability: |
SP20177 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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