BHS3490 - The Self and Others: Identity and the Experience of Difference in the 21st Century

Leader: Peter Kelly

Offered

Caulfield Second semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

In the 21st century our sense of Self, and our relationships to others, are constructed out of a multitude of interactions - some face-to-face, some more abstract. Our experience of difference can be destructive and/or empowering - at the levels of personal relationships, public relationships in spaces such as schools and workplaces, through to the so-called clash of civilisations. This Unit will explore socio-cultural approaches to understanding: the character of human relationships at the start of the 21st century: the consequences that these relationships have for a sense of Self and Others and: how we can understand the variety of behaviours that are shaped by these relationships.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit students will:

1. Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of a variety of socio-cultural perspectives on the nature of human relationships at the start of the 21st century
2. Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of the socio-cultural concept of Identity
3. Have developed a detailed and extensive knowledge of the ways in which the experience of difference influences the relationships between the Self and Others, and to demonstrate a capacity to work with these understandings of difference in a group work assessment context
4. Have developed an ability to identify, explore and make judgements on the research literature related to these concepts
5. Have developed an ability to critically use this literature to communicate, orally and in a written form, in a logical, coherent and analytical manner about these concepts

Assessment

Dialogue/Essay/Report (2000 words) : 40%
Presentation (1750 words) : 45%
1 x 2 hour test (750 words) : 15%

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prerequisites

BHS1711 and BHS1712, or permission

Prohibitions

BHS2490