Module overview
This module is designed to explore in detail the key areas of feminism, postcolonial theory, and cultural semiotics i.e. the analysis of cultural signs, whether in visual culture, such as advertising, political culture, or based in cultural practices. The module focuses on core ideas about misogyny, discrimination, the psychology of colonialism, and cultural consumption.
We will focus on selections from major texts which have been foundational in the study of culture, resistance, and domination. These texs are available in English allowing students with no prior knowledge of French or Francophone contexts to engage with the module.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- define, present and exemplify specific concepts related to the theories and texts studied
- engage more deeply with selected texts from French cultural theory in its cultural and intellectual contexts
- Apply knowledge, understanding and analysis critically to primary and secondary material related to Francophone culture
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- critically evaluate and analyse cultural texts and secondary sources
- plan and organise your learning, exercising independence and initiative
- adhere to guidelines and deadlines
- communicate your ideas in clear, concise and fluent writing
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- core concepts in the topic areas of feminism, the critique of colonialism, and cultural semiotics
- specific aspects of the cultural and intellectual contexts in which these texts produced
Syllabus
We will focus on selections from major texts such as The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, White Skin, Black Masks by Frantz Fanon, and Mythologies by Roland Barthes . These texts are available in English allowing students with no prior knowledge of French or Francophone contexts to engage with the module.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning methods include:
- lectures introducing concepts and contexts
- seminars, where we will discuss cultural texts and concepts both as a whole group, and in small groups
- independent reading, thinking, and writing
- one-to-one tutorials
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Seminar | 12 |
| Wider reading or practice | 40 |
| Follow-up work | 4 |
| Preparation for scheduled sessions | 2 |
| Lecture | 12 |
| Completion of assessment task | 40 |
| Revision | 40 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
edited by Laura Hengehold and Nancy Bauer (2017). A companion to Simone de Beauvoir . Wiley Blackwell.
Simone de Beauvoir. Le deuxième sexe (Vol.II).
Robert Young (2020). Postcolonialism. A very short introduction. OUP.
Roland Barthes. Mythologies.
Frantz Fanon. Peau noire, masques blancs.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Essay | 50% |
| Essay | 50% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External