Module ANTM100 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
ANTM100: The Animal Mirror: Representations of Animality
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
1. to provide students with a detailed and theoretically grounded insight into a wide variety of animal representations in literature, in the arts and in other ‘media’ forms;
2. to enable students to engage critically with the ways such representations relate to, and can inform wider philosophical discussions of contemporary import (such as the environmental crisis and global sustainability);
3. to develop students’ abilities to apply appropriate theoretical models to representations of animals and the ‘nonhuman’.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
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Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate a detailed and coherent knowledge of a range of theoretical approaches to the representations of 'animals' and the 'nonhuman' in literature, the arts, and other 'media' or 'cultural' forms; 2. Critically evaluate and theoretically analyse the relationships between the representations of animals and the consumption of animal representations; e.g. author / reader, artist / viewer, advertiser / consumer; 3. Display an understanding of the ways in which contemporary representations of animals might inform wider theoretical/philosophical debates such as global environmental crisis; |
Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the importance of 'animals' and 'animality' in the creation of anthropological ideas about self and others; 5. Show a clear and detailed understanding of the historical development of theoretical approaches to the representations of animals within the social sciences; 6. Demonstrate a reflexive awareness of the socio-cultural influences which lead to particular representations and interpretations of animals within the social sciences; 7. Critically scrutinise dominant representations in light of recent theoretical developments in the social sciences; 8. Synthesise visual imagery and written text in a coherent and critically analytical manner; |
Personal and Key Skills | 9. Engage in independent research and analysis; 10. Communicate complex ideas to a diverse audience; and 11. Present information utilising a variety of different media, including visual media. |
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:
- Animality, liminality & the human/animal binary
- Language and semiotics
- The real and the representational
- Historical representations in art
- Animal exhibits – zoos, circuses, aquariums
- Photographic representations of animals
- Taxidermied animals
- Aesthetics and breeds
- Anthropomorphism, egomorphism and zoomorphism
- Animals in film
- Animals in advertising
- Media representations of animals
- Postmodern and posthumanist representations of animals
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 |
---|---|---|
20 | 130 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
---|---|---|
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 10 | 10 x 60 minute (or 7 x 90 minutes according to term length) podcast audio lectures with accompanying PowerPoint presentations |
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 10 | 10 x 60 minute (or 6 x 90 minute according to term length) discussion/seminar participations plus one 30 minute introductory seminar about the assignments |
Guided Independent Study | 25 | Preparation and reading for weekly lectures and seminars |
Guided Independent Study | 20 | Preparation for formative assessments Q&A discussions on the ELE discussion forums |
Guided Independent Study | 80 | Research and writing of summative assessments |
Guided Independent Study | 5 | Attendance at an exhibition (which can be virtual) |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
ELE - vle.exeter.ac.uk
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|
Non-assessed exercises | Weekly Q&A discussions on ELE discussion forums | 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 | Peer-assessed and written feedback on the discussion forums on ELE |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
---|---|---|
100 | 0 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
---|---|---|---|---|
Review of an exhibition | 50 | 2,000 words | 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11 | Written feedback |
Photo-essay with accompanying written critical analysis | 50 | 2,000 words | 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 | Written feedback |
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 | ||||
0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Review of an exhibition | Review of an exhibition (2,000 words) | 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11 | August/September reassessment period |
Photo-essay | Photo-essay (2,000 words) | 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Aloi, G. 2012. ‘Deconstructing the Animal in Search of the Real’ Anthrozoos. 25.
Baker, S. 2000. The Post-modern Animal. London: Reaktion Books.
Baker,S. 2001. Picturing the beast: Animals, identity, and representation. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
Bishop, R. 2004. ‘Journeys to the Urban Exotic: Embodiment and the Zoo-Going Gaze’ in Humanities Research. XI:1.
Berger, J. 1980. About Looking. London: Writers and Readers.
Brower, M. 2008. ‘A Rupture in the Field of Representation: Animals, Photography and Affect. Photography and Culture. 2:3.
Burt, J. 2002. Animals in Film. London: Reaktion Books.
Chris, C. 2006. Watching Wildlife. University of Minnesota Press.
Daston, L. & Mitman, G. 2006. Thinking with animals: new perspectives on anthropomorphism. Columbia University Press.
Derrida, J. & Wills, D. 2002. ‘The Animal That Therefore I Am (More to Follow)’ Critical Inquiry 28, no. 2: 369-418.
Fudge, E. 2000. Animal. London: Reaktion Books.
Fuentes, A. 2006. ‘The Humanity of Animals and the Animality of Humans: A View from Biological Anthropology Inspired by J. M. Coetzee’s Elizabeth Costello’ American Anthropologist Volume 108 (1).
Haraway, D. 1991. Simians, Cyborgs and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. Free Association Books.
Hirschman, E.C. and Sanders, C.R. 1997. ‘Motion pictures as metaphoric consumption: How animal narratives teach us to be human’ Semiotica. 115: 1/2.
Kalof, L. and Fitzgerald, A. 2003. ‘Reading the trophy: Exploring the display of dead animals in hunting magazines’ Visual Studies. 18:2.
Kristoffersen, Siv. 2010. ‘Half beast–half man: hybrid figures in animal art’ World Archaeology. 42 (2): 261-272
Malamud, R. 1998. Reading zoos: representations of animals and captivity .New York: New York University Press.
Midgley, M. 1973. ‘The Concept of Beastliness: Philosophy, Ethics and Animal Behaviour’ Philosophy. 48: 111-135.
Quinn, M.S. 1993. ‘Corpulent Cattle and Milk Machines: Nature, Art and the Ideal Type’ Society & Animals. 1:2.
Rachels, J. 1991. Created from Animals: The Moral Implications of Darwinism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rothfels, N. Representing Animals. Indiana University Press.
Russell, C.L. and Ankenman, M.J. 1996. Orangutans as photographic collectibles: ecotourism and the commodification of nature. Tourism Recreation Research. 21(1): 71–78.
Zammit, L.J. and Kalof, L. 2012. ‘From Animal Rights and Shock Advocacy to Kinship with Animals: Lessons from the Visual Culture of Endangered Species’ Antennae. 12