2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SLSP3250 The Sociology of Objects

20 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Tom Campbell
Email: t.w.campbell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Sociology has traditionally focused on the human actors that make up societies. In recent years an increasing interest has developed on the role of non-human actors such as objects in social life. This module considers what it means to centre objects in the study of human society and the analysis of material culture. The module is underpinned by the following questions: What role do objects have in enabling and disabling human relationships and interactions? How have the inventions of specific objects changed the character and organisation of human societies? How have and how do objects influence social action and how society is organised? How do objects show us how material trace of the past continue to shape the present? How do objects mediate social relationships developing intricate webs of meaning and enabling social practices?

Objectives

In this module students will explore the under-theorised position of objects in social life. Students will explore the role of specific objects in social change, and will use recent and classical social theory to consider how central objects should be to our understanding of social life. Students will engage with the materiality of objects through sessions in the University of Leeds Special Collections Belford room, where they will interact with historical objects; students will engage with a makers space, considering how either new objects can be fashioned or existing objects can be hacked, to solve a social problem.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:

1. Understand the importance of objects to social life; how objects are both shaped and shape by social life and articulate the concept of material culture and its importance to the study of society;

2.Investigate the biographies of objects, considering their production, consumption, use and disposal. Students will gain an appreciation of how objects become imbued with meaning across time;

3. Through evaluating class, disability, gender, race and sexuality, consider how objects can construct and reinforce social hierarchies, but also how they can disrupt such hierarchies enabling social change;

4. Draw upon concepts from social theory and adjacent disciplines to appraise the role of specific objects and technological developments in social organisation and societal change;

5. Develop a nuanced appreciation of the role of material artefacts in social life.

6. Evaluate the role of museums, archives and collections in shaping social and cultural life, developing a critical understanding of the politics of collecting and curating.

Students will also develop the following skills:
Digitals Skills: - Students will enhance the information literacy and ability to navigate digital resources and databases to access archival materials.

Work-ready Skills Collaboration: Students objects will be used to centre collaborative discussions, and presentations, through this students will develop their skills in team working.

Technical Skills: - Object analysis students will gain practical skills in analysing material objects, considering their production, consumption and cultural significance.

Sustainability Skills: Ethical awareness students will consider the environmental impact of our production and consumption of objects. Students will also consider the principles and controversies around the collecting of objects for preservation.

Skills outcomes
Students will develop skills in object-based research and analysis:
- Object based evaluation;
- Object based analysis;
- The writing of object- based biographies
- Introduced to how handle objects;
In additions students will advance their:
- Critical reading skills;
- Analytical writing.

Syllabus

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	11	1.00	11.00
Practical	3	1.00	3.00
Seminar	7	2.00	14.00
Private study hours			172.00
Total Contact hours			28.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students will be encouraged to study texts from sociology and other fields concerned with the social importance of objects. They will be encouraged to develop their biographies of objects to discuss in class.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be encouraged to present object biography in our seminars, this will provide students with the opportunity for peer-to-peer feedback. Instructors will also monitor student engagement and encourage open door discussions with students.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 3,000 words	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: 29/04/2024 16:20:23

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