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Being Human in the Modern World

Module description

This core module provides grounding in the practices of the liberal arts, namely, inter-disciplinary training. In this module you will engage in a variety of critical approaches and methods surrounding constructions of identities and beliefs both past and present. You will develop your skills in critical analysis of literary, artefactual, digital and visual materials. By introducing you to both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, you will hone your persuasive oral and writing skills. The study of identities and beliefs is concerned with some of the most crucial questions, locally and globally, about human behaviour and social interaction. You will investigate (and interrogate) who you perceive yourself and others to be, and how these identities and beliefs are connected to complex intersections of race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, religion, politics, economics, embodiment and culture. With the help of an introduction to inter-disciplinary learning for global challenges, you will critically survey the construction of identities through narrative, time, space, experience and encounters, and investigate how convictions stated through a diverse range of communications (sites, texts and discourses ranging from ancient material artefacts to political rhetoric and digital media) have variously shaped and influenced the ways individuals and communities behave.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This core module will:

• introduce the approaches and methodologies of liberal arts
• prepare you for further work in the humanities and social sciences in subsequent years
• initiate the development of critical and creative abilities with which to reflect on local, national and global contexts and challenges

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the key concerns in constructions of identities and beliefs
• 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which constructions of identities and beliefs involve complex intersections of race, gender, sexuality, class, ability, religion, politics, economics, embodiment and culture
• 3. Develop the ability to engage inter-disciplinary approaches in academic study

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate the ability to analyse evidence, to think critically, and to present ideas clearly
• 5. Demonstrate a basic ability to interrelate images, texts and discourses specific to one discipline with issues in the wider context of cultural and intellectual history
• 6. Develop skills in the analysis of literary, material, artefactual, digital and visual materials and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies
• 7. Develop an ability to effectively and persuasively convey knowledge, argument and analysis in a variety of oral and written forms

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. Develop basic communication skills and an ability to work both individually and in groups through seminar discussions, wiki postings and presentations
• 9. Show appropriate research and bibliographic skills; develop a basic capacity to construct a coherent, substantiated argument, and a capacity to write clear and correct prose in the format of an essay and commentary
• 10. Develop a basic proficiency in information retrieval and analysis, an advanced capacity to make critical use of secondary material, to question assumptions, and to reflect on your own learning process, through research for seminars and essays
• 11. Engage sensitively and respectfully with views, identities and beliefs which may not be your own

Syllabus plan

Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:

• What is ‘Liberal Arts’?
• Identities and Belief in Social-Scientific and Humanities Perspectives
• Identities and Beliefs constructed through narrative, time, space, experience and encounters
• Bodies, Gender, Sex, and Identity
• Migration and Identities in a Globalising World
• Politics, Religion, and Conflict
• Heroes and Leaders
• Place, Memory and Identity
• Beliefs, Ethics and Activism
• Race and Racism Past and Present
• Climate Change and Sustainable Futures
• Food, Famine and Feast

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Elliot, A., (ed), Routledge Handbook of Identity Studies  (London: Routledge, 2011)
• Jenkins, R., Social Identity 3d ed. (London: Routledge, 2008)
• Laff, N. S.,  (ed), Identity, Learning, and the Liberal Arts (Jossey-Bass, 2005)
• Stets J. E. and Serpe, R. T., (eds), New Directions in Identity Theory and Research (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2016)
• Garrett, M., Gottfried, H. and VanBurkleo, S., Remapping the Humanities: Identity, Community, Memory, (Post)modernity (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2008)

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE: https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/search.php?search=LIB1105 

Key words search

Liberal Arts