Module PHL3096 for 2016/7
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL3096: Cyborg Studies
This module descriptor refers to the 2016/7 academic year.
Module Aims
The social sciences have traditionally been 'humanist' disciplines, in as much as their empirical and theoretical focus is on human individuals, their interactions with one another, social groups and social structure. This module aims to develop a less anthropocentric or 'posthumanist' sensibility. With the figure of the cyborg, the cybernetic organism, a hybrid of human, animal and machine, as its icon, it explores the co-evolution of humans, machines, sciences and natures. It couples a discussion of posthumanist theory and its moral and political implications with a wide range of empirical studies
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Analyse critically relations between people (individuals and social groups), animals and machines 2. demonstrate a clear understanding of theoretical perspectives appropriate to the analysis of these relations and exemplify with a range of contemporary and historical examples |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. demonstrate in-depth awareness and understanding of a range of social scientific, historical, and philosophical perspectives 4. critically understand the core theoretical assumptions and premises of these disciplines 5. apply a range of theoretical and interpretive perspectives to the task of sociological analysis 6. demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of different and competing social scientific, historical, and philosophical perspectives |
Personal and Key Skills | 7. reflect on, and examine critically, taken-for-granted social, cultural and ethical assumptions, beliefs and values 8. analyse, evaluate, and communicate, clearly and directly, a wide range of explanatory and interpretive theoretical perspectives; assess evidence, marshal facts and construct arguments |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Introduction; history of cybernetics; industry, warfare and modernity; human-machine interfaces and interactions; agency; subjectivity and desire; animals and the environment; cyborg politics; cyborg aesthetics
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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22 | 128 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 22 | The module will be taught as a series of seminars, meeting for two hours each week, organised around around discussions of pre-assigned readings; input by the module leader; student presentations; group discussions of film presentations; and media analysis |
Guided independent study | 66 | weekly reading and working through assigned articles and book chapters |
Guided independent study | 62 | essay writing |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).