2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
CULT2007 Reading Roland Barthes
20 creditsClass Size: 30
Module manager: Dr Eric Prenowitz
Email: e.prenowitz@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2008/09
This module is approved as an Elective
Module summary
This module will offer a detailed encounter with the work of Roland Barthes. It will assess Barthes' contribution to Cultural Studies, examine Barthes' own cultural, historical and institutional context, and relate Barthes' work to that of his contemporaries, such as Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva, Deleuze etc. The module will equip students to discuss Barthes' work in terms of race, gender, class and sexuality and enable them to use Barthes' techniques for the analysis of culture in their own critical practice. An emphasis will be placed on close readings of Barthes' texts.Objectives
On completion of this module students will be able to discuss the range of Roland Barthes' output, from his early structuralism and semiotics to his later post-structuralist and autobiographical works. They will be familiar with Barthes' influence on Cultural Analysis as well as his own historical and institutional context (including the Tel Quel group, the student revolts, the College de France, GREPH etc). Students will be able to use Barthes' techniques for the analysis of culture in their own critical practice. Students will be able to analyse Barthes' work in terms of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Students will be conversant with a range of issues in Barthes' work, including: mythology, narrative, fashion, writing, autobiography, photography, history, intellectuals and so on. Students will be able to relate Barthes' work to that of his contemporaries, including Blannchot, Derrida, Foucault, Cixous, Kristeva, Lyotard, etc.Skills outcomes
Verbal and written fluency in constructing a logical and coherent argument.
Use of audio visual aids
Participation in group discussions
Co-ordination and dissemination of a range of historical, contextual visual information
Using bibliographies and databases
Syllabus
This module will offer a detailed encounter with the work of Roland Barthes. It will assess Barthes' contribution to Cultural Analysis as well as examining Barthes' own cultural, historical and institutional context (such as the Tel Quel group, the student revolts, the College de France, GREPH and so on). It will relate Barthes' work to that of his contemporaries, such as Derrida, Foucault, Kristeva, Deleuze, etc. The module will equip students to discuss Barthes' work in terms of race, gender, class and sexuality. It will also enable students to use Barthes' techniques for the analysis of culture in their own critical practice. The module will be taught by two-hourly seminar blocks which will be spent reading Barthes' texts in detail and discussing their place in and relevance for Cultural Analysis, The module will follow a chronological path through Barthes' work, suggested reading may include: Writing Degree Zero, Mythologies, Image-Music-Text, S/Z, The Pleasure of the Text, Sade Fourier Loyola, Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes, A Lover's Discourse, and Camera Lucida.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Seminar | 11 | 2.00 | 22.00 |
| Tutorial | 11 | 1.00 | 11.00 |
| Private study hours | 167.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 33.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
167 hours - further reading, essay preparation and writting, class preparationOpportunities for Formative Feedback
Attendance at seminars/tutorialsRecord of attendance kept
Participation in class discussions
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 1 x 2,000-3,000 word essay | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 50.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 2 hr | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 50.00 | |
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 websiteLast updated: 29/06/2009
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD