Crucial Differences in the 21st Century

Academic year 2011-12

Date last modified

23-4-2012 1:29

Period

Period 2

Startdate:

31-Oct-11

Enddate:

23-Dec-11

Code

HUM3040

ECTS credits

5.0

Organisational unit

University College Maastricht

Coordinator

L.F.J.T.M. Kolle

Description

This course introduces contemporary perspectives on ‘race’/ethnicity, class, gender and sexuality. You will learn to examine the ways in which such crucial differences are constituted nowadays by asking questions like: how do claimants such as ‘racial’ minorities, ‘Third World’ feminists, gays and lesbians (gathered in so called identity politics movements) reshape the form and content of identities? How is our everyday life constituted and re-constituted by such politics? Does this identity claiming primarily pertain to the symbolic and cultural realms, or does it also effect material inequality? Is claim-making based on ‘difference’ leading to the deepening of the divisions or is it leaving some space for coalition and networking despite — or rather because of — its being based on ‘crucial differences’? Through critical inquiry into major texts, this course dynamically re- conceptualizes the intersections between the divisions of gender, class, ‘race’/ethnicity and sexuality; the relationship between these divisions and the nation-state in the process of globalization; and between theory and practice in ‘difference’ claim-making. Examples we draw on extend beyond Europe. Diversity is furthermore exemplified in our interdisciplinary approach. The course builds on approaches and theories from disciplines such as literature, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, economics, political economy, health science as well as from the fields of gender studies, cultural studies, development studies and migration studies. The interdisciplinary nature of this course , however, does not mean to simply add existing disciplinary strands together. Rather, it will provide you with an opportunity to critically analyze and comprehend the multi-facetedness of the world we are living in. The historical perspectives you may have become acquainted with in the course Crucial Differences A will be a foundation for the contemporary setting you are about to embark on.

Goals

Instruction language

Prerequisites

At least one of the following courses: HUM2003 The Making of Crucial Differences (strongly recommended) and/or HUM2011 Cultural Studies II and/or HUM1003 Cultural Studies I

Recommended literature

Each problem is accompanied by a list of obligatory reading. References with R (Reader) are found in the Reader. UCM- students will find the Reader (a folder with copies of the readings) in the Reading Room. References with L (Library) can be found in the University Library.

Teaching methods

PBL
PRESENTATION(S)
LECTURE(S)
ASSIGNMENT(S)
PAPER(S)

Assessment methods

FINAL PAPER
ATTENDANCE
PARTICIPATION
WRITTEN EXAM
ORAL EXAM
TAKE HOME EXAM

Key words