Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
This module introduces students to the history, theories and practices of social movements in local, national and global contexts. Referring to case studies, we explore: why social movements emerge; what social movements are trying to achieve; the public sphere response to campaigning and protest; and the extent to which social movements realise social change. Alongside an examination of the development and scope of social movements, the module also explores the culture of protest. Here, we consider how protest is performed through cultural forms such as art, literature and social media, and unpack how these counter-narratives inform public opinion.
Aims
- to introduce students to the history, theories and practices relating to local, national and global social movements;- to encourage a critical sociological understanding of how social movements and protest might contribute to social change;- to assess the complex relationships between the State and social movements that seek to resist or oppose power relations.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/soc-20056/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
recognise and define the principal characteristics of social movements: 1,2define and utilise the theories and concepts essential for the analysis of social movements: 1,2assess State and dominant public sphere response to social movements and protest: 1,2critically evaluate theories of social change in relation to the everyday practices of social movements: 1,2provide an account of one historical or contemporary social movement referring to relevant sociological theories: 1,2outline how social movements can be categorised into a variety of different types and structures: 1,2
10 hours lectures10 hours tutorials40 hours tutorial preparation45 hours poster preparation45 hours short answer paper preparation
Description of Module Assessment
1: Poster Presentation weighted 50%Poster of a social movementA critical exploration of one social movement or campaign presented in poster format. The poster will: refer to relevant theories to demonstrate why the chosen example can be defined as a social movement; provide an examination of its culture and organisation; and reveal how it is/was constructed in public discourse.
The poster should be approximately 1000 words, and include images that support the discussion. The poster will be presented across 4 pages, plus one page of references (not included in the word count). The poster can be formatted as either a Word or PowerPoint document.
2: Short Paper weighted 50%Short answer questionsStudents will answer 2 questions from a list relating to lecture topics. Each answer should be between a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of 750 words.