Seminar Description

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 507.

We are using the work of French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu to read - upstream and downstream – other influential social theorists. Power and capital, autonomy and subjectivity will be two main meta-questions organizing our readings. Each week addresses a specific theme and for clarity one or two social scientists who were either influential on Bourdieu or engaged Bourdieu' main contributions. Every session, we read two pieces. Either excerpts of a book or articles. You are encouraged to read the whole books even though I can only assume you will read the assigned chapters. In addition to the main and compulsory readings, additional readings are proposed to students. These are in no way complete bibliographies of the themes discussed. They are more hints for expanding the common list of compulsory readings. They are also helps for students who make a presentation on that week and expand their presentations into their final essay. The language of the class is English.

Students will be evaluated in two ways.

First, oral participation in all classes will weigh up to 50% of the final grade. This is a seminar and participation is not an option. The instructor will launch the discussion by a short lecture but he will also ask questions to students during the seminar. It is hence expected that all the readings be done prior to coming to class. In addition to this overall oral participation, each student will have to make a formal presentation of a group of texts during one of the seminars. If the class ends up with more students than sessions, students will be allowed to team up and make joint presentations. Students will confer with the instructor to figure out how they want to present and what additional readings they will bring to the discussion during their presentation. The formal presentation itself should be no longer than 45 mn, and no shorter than 20mn.

Second, a written examination will consist of a final essay submitted at the end of the course. This essay will count for 50% of the class grade. This essay can be an elaboration upon the class presentation. Students will once again confer with the instructor before launching into a final project. The aim of the paper is to engage students into writing about one of the authors we will read but in relation to their own project. It is about articulating social theory and their own research, not about regurgitating the authors we will read. It should be no shorter than 5,000 words, no longer than 10,000 words.

All the required readings will be available on the course website. The books will also be available from the library. The address of the course site will be communicated on the first day of the class. Anna Artiushina is the teaching assistant. Any practical problem should be referred to her.