Senses and Society
| Module title | Senses and Society |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOC3103 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Michael Schillmeier (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This introductory module explores and discusses the importance of sensory practices in experiencing, understanding and making social worlds. Sensory practices are socially produced (gender, class etc.) and perform cultural differences in the different ways we engage with humans and our non-human environment. Sensory practices shape and are shaped by social and cultural practices. The module will give an overview of the different senses – seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, tasting - and related sociological and anthropological issues, research agendas and theoretical orientations.
The module is appropriate for students with some background in sociology or anthropology, although there are no pre-requisites. This module is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist students and its interdisciplinary outlook will appeal to students in social sciences, anthropology and philosophy
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aims of this module are to introduce the relationship between the senses and lived social worlds, and to explore the how the different senses shape and are shaped social practices and cultural differences. It will discuss central topics and issues, different research agendas and theoretical orientations. With the use of specific and historically diverse examples, the module will examine key issues of current social life and how the perspective of sensory practices offers a novel understanding of the social and society.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate your knowledge of different approaches to the study of sensory practices
- 2. Analyse and evaluate key issues in the field of sensory practices in relation to specific themes, studies and findings
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Select relevant material and structure it in order to present coherent arguments
- 4. Display in written and oral form an understanding of the disciplines relation to, and difference from, other approaches and explanations offered towards the senses and society
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Undertake independent study and group work
- 6. Prepare focused and comprehensive written and oral presentations
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:
• Senses and Society
• Sensory Practices and Human Experience
• Hegemony of Vision in Modern Societies
• Non-visual Practices
• Senses and Material Culture
• Sensory Diversity
• Senses and Social Inequality
• Senses and Social Exclusion
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching | 22 | 11 x 2-hour lectures, involving presentations, group discussion, film presentations and media analysis. Please note that the last two sessions where the students present their essay projects will be held via Zoom (4 Hours) |
| Guided independent study | 18 | Preparing seminar-presentation individually and as a group |
| Guided independent study | 80 | Reading for assignments |
| Guided independent study | 30 | Essay preparation: conducting research, analysing data, and writing the finished product |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Class Presentation primarily oral although power point, other media and handouts may be used | 15-20 minutes | 1-6 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Essay | 70 | 2000 words | 1-6 | Written |
| Individual session presentation of readings and moderating session discussion | 30 | Each Session, including group work, 20-30 minutes, moderation of each session, and handing in discussion notes where required, after presentation (on ELE); including in class presentation of essay topic and related literature, 5-10 minutes | 1-6 | Oral and written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar presentation of readings and leading seminar discussion | 1,500 word essay | 1-6 | August/September assessment period |
| Research Essay | 2000 word essay | 1-6 | August/September assessment period |
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 redo the assessment(s) as defined above. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Classen, C. (1993) Worlds of Sense: Exploring the Senses in History and Across Cultures. Routledge
Howes, D. (2004) Empire of the Senses: The Sensual Culture Reader. Berg
Howes, D. (2013) Ways of Sensing: Understanding the Senses in Society. Routledge
Vannini, P. et al. (eds) (2013) The Senses in Self, Society and Culture. Routledge
Schillmeier, M. (2012) Rethinking Disability. Bodies, Senses and Things. London: Routledge
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk
Web based and electronic resources:
Course materials (including lecture slides and tutorial topics/questions) will be provided on ELE prior to each lecture/tutorial.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 05/01/2016 |
| Last revision date | 01/03/2023 |
