SO427      Half Unit
Modern Social Thought

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof. Nigel Dodd S277

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities, MSc in European Studies: Ideas and Identities (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Sociology, MSc in Sociology and MSc in Sociology (Contemporary Social Thought). This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

Contemporary social theory. An introduction to the historical background, context and output of Walter Benjamin, Theodor Adorno, Michel Foucault, and Jean Baudrillard, and a close reading and study of some of their most significant texts.

Teaching

20 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

One formative essay in LT

Indicative reading

The following is merely a sample list of some of the texts to be covered: Benjamin, W: 'Theses on the philosophy of history' & The Arcades Project (Section N); Adorno, T: 'Theses against Occultism' & Negative Dialectics (various sections); Foucault, M: The History of Madness & The Order of Things (various sections); Baudrillard, J: Symbolic Exchange and Death (mainly chapter 5) & The Spirit of Terrorism. A number of secondary readings will be recommended, but students will be strongly discouraged from relying on these.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 5000 words) in the ST.

Two hard copies of the assessed essay, with submission sheets attached to each, to be handed in to the Administration Office S200, no later than 16:30 on the first Tuesday of Summer Term. An additional copy to be uploaded to Moodle no later than 18:00 on the same day.

Student performance results

(2010/11 - 2012/13 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 34.5
Merit 49.1
Pass 16.4
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Sociology

Total students 2013/14: 31

Average class size 2013/14: 30

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills