Universität Wien
Warning! The directory is not yet complete and will be amended until the beginning of the term.

124260 KO Critical Media Analysis (2017S)

The Body and Cultural Politics of Representation

6.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Friday 10.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 17.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 24.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 31.03. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 07.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 28.04. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 05.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 12.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 19.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 26.05. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 02.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 09.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 16.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 23.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 30.06. 12:00 - 14:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this course we will consider how the body is molded in terms of a series of cultural values assigned to it. Body-oriented conceptualizing is formed out of tension between visual presentation of the body and symbolic grammar generated by culture. We will examine how social and visual images of our bodies force us to consider our identities in socially approved ways. In this context we will deploy several methodologies of cultural theories (see below) to analyze how representations structure the way we know and see bodies. This approach requires, at the same time, a focus on an analysis of power and meaning-making in production & reception of cultural texts on the body.
Centuries of predominant rationalism and dualism led to the modern Western view of the body as mostly a mere object which may be dissociated from the true being mind or soul, which were expected to control the corporeal matter and its discreditable drives. Opposing the notion of the body as a mere natural object numerous structrualist & poststructuralist theories consider bodies as a constitutive and inescapable dimension of cultural and social practices.
On the basis of developing a strong foundation in a number of approaches, students will deploy these methodologies by moving across a variety of media forms & practices (film, literature, digital media, performance art, pop-&-subculture phenomena). A major objective of the course is discover how these theoretical concepts of the body can be used as exciting tools to unlock the multiple meanings of body in an in-depth analysis of cultural texts.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular participation
Oral presentation (15 mins)
Short reflections
Participation in plenum discussions
Final paper (about 3000 words)

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination topics

Reading list

We will explore key-approaches in cultural theories on the body such as:
Mauss anthropological-social theory on body-techniques
Foucault's discursive theory onthe body as object of disciplinary practices; docile bodies;biopower
Psychoanalytical theory (Lacan) and the French feminist-poststructuralist response to phallo-logocentric & repressive symbolic representations of the masculine & feminine
Butler's gender- & queer theory on sex as construct and gender performativity
Postcolonial concepts of racialized bodies
(Hall - race as floating signifier; Said - Orientalized Body; Bhabha - skin as fetish)
Baudrillard's redefinition of postmodern formulations of the body
DeCertau on the role of corporality in practices of opposition, resistance and cultural creativity
Haraway on Cyborg body-politics

--> Theoretical texts will be available on moodle in the course of the semester

As regards the analysis of FILMS - LITERATURE - MEDIA
--> A LIST WILL BE PROVIDED BY END OF FEBRUARY

Association in the course directory

Studium: UF 344, BA 612, BEd 046 / 407
Code/Modul: UF 4.2.5-426; BA07.3; BEd 08a.2, BEd 08b.1
Lehrinhalt: 12-4260

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33