2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CULT3000 The Frankfurt School and Critical Theory

20 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Barbara Engh
Email: b.engh@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 examines the key critical concepts developed by the Frankfurt School, one of the major critical movements of the 20th century whose concerns continue to agitate Cultural Studies today. Drawing upon readings from Adorno, Benjamin, Bloch, Habermas, Horkheimer, and Marcuse, we will explore the issues of the structural transformation of society with the advent of commodity culture, the culture industry, the critique of rationality, the dialectic of the artwork and of technology, and the concept of critique itself.In addition to developing an understanding of the historical and philosophical sociogenesis of the Frankfurt School, we will study the deployment of their critical concepts in relation to specific cultural practices, filmic, literary, and musical.Assessment: 1 x 2 hour exam (50%) and 1 x 2,000 - 3,000 word essay (50%).

Objectives

On completion of this module students:
- will be familiar with the key critical concepts developed by the Frankfurt School;
- should have an understanding of the historical and philosophical genealogy of Critical Theory, and understand its relevance to contemporary cultural theory and analysis, with regard to both cultural critique in general and the analysis of specific cultural forms such as film and music.

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 course will examine the key critical concepts developed by the Frankfurt School, one of the major critical movements of the 20th century whose concerns continue to agitate Cultural Studies today. Drawing upon readings from Adorno, Benjamin, Bloch, Habermas, Horkheimer, and Marcuse, we will explore the issues of the structural transformation of society with the advent of commodity culture, the culture industry, the critique of rationality, the dialectic of the art work and of technology, and the concept of critique itself.

In addition to developing an understanding of the historical and philosophical sociogenesis of the Frankfurt School, we will study the deployment of their critical concepts in relation to specific cultural practices, filmic, literary, and musical.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- 150 hours reading and class preparation
- 28 hours essay preparation and writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Attendance at seminars/lectures - record of attendance kept
- Contribution to 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 website

Last updated: 19/02/2010

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