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2013/14 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

SLSP5144M Liquid Sociology

30 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Dr Mark Davis
Email: m.e.davis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2013/14

Pre-requisite qualifications

2:1 BA (Hons) in the Social Sciences or related discipline
English Language requirements as directed by School policy

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

The aim of the module is to introduce students to the sociological thinking of Zygmunt Bauman at an advanced level. The module will foster a critical approach to this highly-celebrated body of work and encourage students to assess the contribution of Bauman's sociology to the understanding of contemporary social life. The module aims to develop and extend Bauman's thinking in a number of major areas associated with his work and establish the relevance of his thinking in relation to wider social and political thought.

Objectives

The objectives can be summarised as follows:

1. to introduce students to the sociology of Zygmunt Bauman at an advanced level;
2. to encourage students to engage critically with questions that emerge from his work in order to develop advanced critical capabilities and to inspect the applicability of his ideas to practical social analysis;
3. to explore the relevance of Bauman's work within the sociological tradition and to assess his work in relation to wider social and political thought;
4. to foster an academic environment in which students can acquire increased critical reasoning, refined communication skills, and begin to develop their own critical position on a number of major social and political themes.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students should show evidence of being able to:

- demonstrate an advanced grounding in the sociological thinking of Zygmunt Bauman;
- assess the importance of Zygmunt Bauman's contribution to sociology and the enduring relevance of his ideas to the practical analysis of society;
- evaluate critically social and political phenomena - such as consumerism, ethics, social inclusion/exclusion - in order to implement the use of concepts and theory in the practical analysis of such phenomena;
- exhibit mastery in the exercise of both generic and specific intellectual abilities relevant to the study of a range of social and political phenomena;
- think critically, to understand the differences between alternative explanations of social and political realities, and to assess and evaluate competing perspectives.

Skills outcomes
This module will develop skills of critical thinking through participation in lectures, seminars and writing. It will foster students' ability to explore both the insights and limitations of Bauman's sociology and seek practical applications of his ideas to contemporary modes of living.

Students will also have the opportunity to develop the following transferable skills that are essential to becoming an independent researcher at an advanced level:

- to demonstrate self-directed learning and effective decision-making across a range of difference research situations;
- to demonstrate independent learning skills and self-management, as well as the ability to work collaboratively as part of a group;
- to display advanced communication skills, both written and oral, and presentation skills;
- to demonstrate analytical skills, flexibility and adaptability;
- to evaluate individual progress in relation to identified learning outcomes.

Syllabus

Lecture sequence

Lecture 1: Introduction - Who is Zygmunt Bauman?
Lecture 2: The Modern Trilogy - Bauman on Modernity
Lecture 3: The Postmodern Turn - Bauman on Postmodernity
Lecture 4: Liquid Life - Bauman beyond Postmodernity
Lecture 5: From Feudal Serf to Spender - Bauman on Consumerism
Lecture 6: Wasted Lives? - Bauman on Social Exclusion
Lecture 7: Being-for-the-Other - Bauman on Ethics
Lecture 8: Freedom and Security in Bauman's thought
Lecture 9: The Unfinished Adventure - Bauman on Europe
Lecture 10: The Art of Life - Bauman on Happiness
Lecture 11: Summation and Feedback.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Private study hours			278.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Private study involves a considerable level of reading and study into the sociological writings of Zygmunt Bauman, the secondary commentaries on his work, and those wider social and political themes and issues raised in the module - such as consumerism, ethics, social inclusion/exclusion. This is a principal for this reason that such a heavy stress is placed upon independent private study.

Another key reason for this stress is to enable students to develop the core analytical and transferable skills identified above and to have realised these in practice as a central outcome of the module.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored during lectures / tutorials and open door sessions, when students will be encouraged to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and levels of criticality in relation to the theoretical and substantive course content.

Student progress will also be monitored by an initial 2,000 word formative essay and a final 6,000 word assessed essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 6,000 word essay	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 10/02/2014

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