Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC2009: Deviance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

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

Overview

NQF Level 5
Credits 15 ECTS Value 7.5
Term(s) and duration

This module will run during term 2 (11 weeks)

Academic staff

Dr Christopher Thorpe (Convenor)

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Available via distance learning

No

This module draws on theoretical concepts and perspectives taken from a range of disciplines to explore the cultural dimensions of deviance as it is performed, constructed, understood and (re)presented across various historical and contemporary contexts and settings. Rather than framing deviance as first and foremost a social and individual problem, you will focuses instead on the universal significance and autonomy of deviance as first and foremost a cultural phenomenon.

The core analytical questions underpinning this module are as follows: What can we learn about human societies and behaviour by exploring the cultural, structures, dynamics and autonomy of deviance? What does it mean that deviance is culturally universal at the same time as taking a wide range of historically and socially particular forms? What can this tell us about the organisation of and changes to human social life both historically and in the present day?

A predominantly cultural sociological perspective approach to deviance will be supplemented with approaches from related disciplines such as cultural criminology, sociology and anthropology. Themes covered during the module include: classical social and cultural theoretical accounts of deviance; deviant subcultural formations, young people and youth; constructing deviants; deviance and embodiment; everyday deviance and identity politics; deviance and punishment; deviance, control and governmentality; performativity and deviance; deviance, anomie and risk.

This module will appeal to students on interdisciplinary trajectories spanning criminology, anthropology, sociology and philosophy.

Module created

22/06/2017

Last revised