Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL3096: Cyborg Studies

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 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.

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 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
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
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	The module will be taught as a series of seminars, meeting for two hours each week, organised around discussions of pre-assigned readings
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).