Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2064: Critical Theory: The Frankfurt School and Communicative Capitalism

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The aims of this module are:

  • to introduce you to 20th century Critical Theory and its Freudo-Marxist concepts
  • to practise critical methods and critical reflection
  • to learn about philosophical examination of modern-day social changes and problems
  • to introduce you to 20th century philosophers who have been greatly influential on current philosophical and political thought.

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 theories and texts (readings) for the course
2. Demonstrate sound understanding of the methodological and conceptual problems of critiquing modernity
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Demonstrate critical understanding of the interrelation between epistemology, values, and material social conditions
4. Demonstrate knowledge of a specific current type of philosophical social and political analysis
Personal and Key Skills5. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse texts with guidance, and discuss complex problems
6. Demonstrate the ability to write short, explanatory summaries of academic texts
7. Demonstrate the ability to research independently and write a critical philosophical essay on a module theme

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.

- Beverly Best, Werner Bonefeld and Chris O’Kane, The SAGE HANDBOOK of Critical Theory, 2018.
- Theodor W. Adorno and Max Horkheimer: ‘The Dialectic of Enlightenment’ (1944/2002) Stanford University Press.
- Theodor W. Adorno: ‘Minima Moralia’ (2005), Verso.
- Jodi Dean, J. (2005). ‘Communicative Capitalism: Circulation and the Foreclosure of Politics’, Cultural Politics, 1(1), pp. 51-74.
- Erich Fromm: ‘Escape from Freedom’ (2011), Ishi Press.
- Nancy Fraser Redistribution and Recognition (2013).
- Christian Fuchs, Anxiety and Politics in the New Age of Authoritarian Capitalism, Triple C (2017).
- Axel Honneth, ‘Disrespect. The Normative Foundations of Critical Theory’ (2007), Polity Press.
- Threbor Scholz, Digital Labor, Tayor and Francis, 2013.
- Ritu Vij, The global subject of precarity (2019).