Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2107: Culture and Wellbeing

This module descriptor refers to the 2018/9 academic year.

Module Aims

The central aims of this module are to enable you to build an understanding of positive aspects of life and efforts to flourish, often in adverse circumstances; and to critically evaluate claims about wellbeing and the assumptions that underwrite them (including policy statements, political claims, and economic agendas). The module thus aims to seek a balance between critical and constructive approaches. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the current state of anthropological and sociological debates related to wellbeing;
2. Show a developing understanding of specific issues related to the understanding of wellbeing – such as care, work, creativity, or hope – based on anthropological, sociological and related literature.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Link theoretical concepts with grounded examples;
4. Show competence in critically assessing claims about wellbeing;
Personal and Key Skills5. Communicate concepts and ideas clearly both orally and in writing;
6. Work independently and in groups, within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task

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 themes:

Suffering and beyond

Health

Conviviality and mutuality

Agency

Responsibility

Happiness

Values

Care

Hope

Work and creativity

Wellbeing – a critical exploration

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
24126

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity11Weekly one-hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity11Weekly one-hour seminars
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity2Lecture – Exam revision session
Guided Independent Study36Readings for seminars and tutorials
Guided Independent Study10Preparation for seminar presentation
Guided Independent Study40Researching and writing the essay
Guided Independent Study40Readings and revisions for exams

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

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.

Corsín Jiménez, Alberto, ed. 2008. Culture and well-being: Anthropological approaches to freedom and political ethics. London: Pluto.

Ahmed, Sara. 2010. The promise of happiness. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Diener, Edward, and Eunkook M. Suh. 2000. Culture and subjective well-being. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Fischer, Edward F. 2015. The Good Life: Aspiration, Dignity, and the Anthropology of Wellbeing. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

Jackson, Michael. 2011. Life within limits: Well-being in a world of want. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

Robbins, Joel. 2013. “Beyond the suffering subject: Toward an anthropology of the good.” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute (N.S.) 19 (3): 447–62.

Skidelsky, Robert, and Edward Skidelsky. 2012. How much is enough? The love of money and the case for the good life. London: Penguin.

Suh, Eunkook M., and Shigehiro, Oishi. 2004. “Culture and subjective well-being: Introduction to the special issue.” Journal of Happiness Studies 5 (3): 219–22.

Thelen, T., 2015. Care as social organization: Creating, maintaining and dissolving significant relations. Anthropological Theory

Hallam, Elizabeth and Tim Ingold (eds.). 2007. Creativity and Cultural Improvisation. Oxford: BERG

Kavedzija, Iza and Harry Walker. 2016. Values of Happiness: Towards an Anthropology of Meaning in Life. HAU Books, University of Chicago Press.