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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : History and Philosophy of Science

136-358 Technocultures: A Social Inquiry

Availability:

Not offered in 1997.

Credit Points:

16.7 3rd year

Coordinator:

Dr Helen Verran

Prerequisite/s:

At least two 200 level HPS course.

Contact:

One two-hour lecture seminar per week plus tutorials supporting research work.

Objectives:

Students who complete this subject should:

  • Develop familiarity with the 'conceptual terrain' of the social analysis of technology. This familiarity will be used in developing possibilities for social critique of technology.

  • Develop specific case studies involving information technologies and reproductive technologies.

Content:

Two distinct traditions comprise the contemporary 'conceptual terrain' of social critique of technology. These can be glossed as humanist and semiotic traditions. The course of study gives roughly equal time to these traditions, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. In a small research project students will be expected to focus on a particular type of technology.

Assessment:

The best ten of twelve tutorials papers (300 words each) to be submitted weekly, and a report on a small research project (2000 words).

Prescribed Texts:

  • John Law (ed), A Sociology of Monsters Essays on Power Technology and Domination, Routledge 1991.
  • Judy Wajcman, Feminism Confronts Technology, Allen and Unwin 1991.
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Arts : History and Philosophy of Science 
Status:                   OFFICIAL 1997
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Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.