units

APG4330

Faculty of Arts

Monash University

Postgraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL

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LevelPostgraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitPolitics
OfferedNot offered in 2013
Coordinator(s)Paul Muldoon

Notes

Previously coded PLM4440

Synopsis

As the consumer ethos invades every area of our lives, identity is increasingly related less to the place one inhabits and more to what one owns or is capable of attaining. These developments have implications, not only for our political life as citizens, but for the Western tradition of thinking about politics itself. To the extent that political thought and action has traditionally been based around an embedded notion of citizenship, it is in serious need of re-examination. This unit explores how changes in modes of consumption in post-industrial societies have altered our notions of citizenship and produced a new 'politics of rebellion' outside the conventional political arena.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Understand different theoretical approaches to consumerism.
  2. Connect debates over consumerism to notions of democracy and citizenship.
  3. Develop a deeper understanding of globalisation and its discontents.
  4. Be able to make connections across different disciplines (particularly politics, sociology and cultural studies).
  5. Display advanced oral communication skills.
  6. Undertake independent research and present the results in a coherent written format.

Assessment

Written work: 50% (5000 words)
Take home exam: 40%
Oral presentation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prohibitions

APG5330, ATS4330