Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Social theory
Prev 136-079 Reading Texts in Social Theory
Next 136-076 Social Theory and Political Analysis

 136-082 Imagined Societies

Note

Formerly available as 136-482. Students who have completed 136-482 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Credit Points

12.5

HECS Band

1

Coordinator

Dr John Cash

Prerequisites

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma or Fourth Year combined Honours in Social Theory.

Semester

2 (view timetable)

Contact

A 2-hour seminar per week

Subject Description

This subject critically engages with questions regarding the place of subjectivity in the constitution and organisation of social and political relations, at both the theoretical and empirical levels. It involves the study of political subjectivities, including race, gender and ethnicity. By engagement with such theorists as Lacan, Castoriadis, Kristeva, Foucault, Giddens and Habermas, the subject highlights the places of the imaginary and the unconscious in the formation of ideologies and subjectivities. Students who complete 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 some attempts to bring contemporary theories of subjectivity to the study of empirical cases.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on an essay and an oral class presentation totalling 5000 words.



Search : Index : Faculty of Arts : Social theory
Prev 136-079 Reading Texts in Social Theory
Next 136-076 Social Theory and Political Analysis
Status:                   Official 2001
Last Modified:            Wednesday May 23 22:24
SGML to HTML Conversion:  Information Technology Services
Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au