| Unit name | Thinking Radically in Twentieth-Century France |
|---|---|
| Unit code | FREN30132 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Testa |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one | |
| School/department | Department of French |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
What role do rebellion, resistance, and transgression play in twentieth-century French theory and philosophy? How far does dealing with such issues turn a philosopher into a radical thinker and actor? In this unit, you will explore what celebrated twentieth-century intellectuals understood by oppression and what possibilities they saw for resisting structures of power and domination. You will develop a thematic view of the history of twentieth-century French philosophy from the perspective of its engagement with politics while stressing it focus on critique, resistance, and transgression. In analysing complex philosophical material, you will reflect on the relevance of the ideas studied for thinking not only about history but also about the present moment.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit provides you with the tools to navigate twentieth-century French philosophy and political theory, and to identify and analyse central problems of the relation between politics and philosophy. You will work closely with French philosophical texts, further developing and fine-tuning your close reading and analytical skills as well as your understanding of the French language. You will also be encouraged to think philosophically and critically apply the concepts studied to the present day. By the end of the course, you will have acquired a nuanced understanding of some of the central concepts of twentieth-century French philosophy and will have developed critical views on its persistent focus on the problematisation of power and politics.
An overview of content
Tackling key works by philosophers including Simone de Beauvoir, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Rancière, the unit interrogates central philosophical developments of the twentieth century, and considers how philosophy was, by these diverse and intriguing thinkers, construed as a radical enterprise of critique. Through a dual political-philosophical approach, we will relate ideas of resistance to political and intellectual contexts, from the two World Wars to colonialism and anti-colonial struggles, from the hopes and challenges of May 1968, to the crisis of representative democracy, passing though gender politics and critiques of capitalism. In so doing, the unit develops an understanding of philosophical reflections on a variety of relationships, including those between war and peace, power and freedom, and the state and democracy.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
You will become able to engage critically with French theoretical texts and philosophically with your own present, while simultaneously developing new tools for analysing diverse forms of cultural production as critical and independent thinkers. By making connections between philosophy and politics, students will become able to understand the relevance of the intellectual in social life and public debates. In their assessments, they will in turn be invited to apply their knowledge creatively, building confidence as thinkers and writers while developing their skills as effective communicators.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous live sessions and online learning materials, including group seminar-style discussion, tutor-led inputs, and self-directed exercises.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FREN30132).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
