136-534 Imagined Societies

Formerly available as 136-082. Students who have completed 136-082 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth-year combined honours in social theory, or a masters program and permission of the subject coordinator.

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 place 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.

• 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.

An oral presentation of a 600 word seminar paper 10%, a research essay of 5400 words for masters students and 4400 words for 4th year students/postgraduate diploma students (due during the examination period), class participation and contribution 10%.