SOCIOL 200
Theory and Society
Please note: this is archived course information from 2019 for SOCIOL 200.
Description
Max Horkheimer wrote that critical theory sheds "critical light on present-day society ... under the hope of radically improving human existence". "Theory and Society" takes this approach. Theory is deployed as a tool to understand and explain the embedded structures and relationships that give form to life and weapon to bring about their transformation.
With Marx we examine why in a free society so much of our time is taken up with getting and maintaining a job. We examine why people act against their own interest by defending the power and privileges of the elites. With Freud we plunge deep into our innermost desires and with the help of Marcuse, whose theory synthesises Marx and Lacan, offer an explanation, among other things, for our consumer passions. Foucault helps explain how in everyday life we police one another’s behaviour. The "classical" sociology of Durkheim and Weber is also covered. We also consider Bourdieu’s contributions to sociological thought and analysis. The course concludes with an overview of feminist theory.
Availability 2019
Semester 1
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator(s) Dr Ciara Cremin
Reading/Texts
A course reader will be made available if required.
Assessment
Coursework + exam
Points
SOCIOL 200: 15 points
Prerequisites
30 points at Stage I in Sociology or 15 points at Stage I in Sociology with a minimum B+ pass
