Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module GEOG3441: MATERIAL GEOGRAPHIES

Department: Geography

GEOG3441: MATERIAL GEOGRAPHIES

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2011/12 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Any Level 1 or level 2 GEOG module.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To introduce and develop with students an understanding of key literatures, debates and issues within the area of 'Material Geographies'
  • students will be introduced to theoretical approaches to matter and materiality including Cultural Materialism, Actor Network Theory, Social Constructivism, and Non-Representational Theory
  • students will be introduced to these theoretical approaches through a series of grounded case studies in lectures and through seminars and workshops
  • through the process of lectures, workshops and seminars students should have a grasp of the concepts of 'materialism', 'matter', and 'material geographies' within cultural geography

Content

  • Introduction to debates in Material Geographies
  • Block One: Nature/Matter: Introduction to Theories of the Matter of Nature
  • Hybrid Natures: Case Study of Nature/ technology (Biotechnology/ Nanotechnology)
  • excessive Natures: Case Study of Bio-Viruses and Disasters
  • Living natures: case studies of Animal Geographies
  • Nature, Culture and Social Politics: Material Geographies of Race
  • Nature Culture and Social Politics: Material Geographies of Gender
  • Block Two: Intro to Theories of the Matter of Landscape and The Body
  • Landscape, Matter and Culture: Media Matters
  • Landscape, Matter and Culture: Geographies of Exclusion
  • Landscape, Matter and Culture: Dwelling, inclusion and home
  • Landscape, Matter and Politics: Histories of Land politics
  • Enacting Landscape: Case Study of Dwelling and Walking the Landscape
  • Introduction to The Body and Matter' Hybrid Bodies: Case Study of the Technological Body in Medicine
  • Living Bodies: Case Study of the Emotional, feeling, body
  • Conclusion: Reprisal of debates set out in Block one and Two

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Students are expected to: Engage with literatures that are published within the realm of 'material geographies'
  • demonstrate a comprehension of the different approaches to 'material geographies'
  • critically assess and debate current questions within the literatures on 'material geographies'
  • express an understanding of approaches to material Geographies in cross-disciplinary context (anthropology, sociology, geography, cultural studies, philosophy)
Subject-specific Skills:
    Key Skills:

      Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

      • Through lectures we will introduce the current debates and literatures within the area of 'Material Geographies', this would include references to publications and debates across the social sciences
      • Seminars and workshops will be run to enable students to develop and demonstrate an ability to understand the theoretical approaches to material geographies
      • In seminars, workshops an lectures we will use case studies to enable to contextualise the theoretical approaches to ' material geographies'
      • Students will be expected to make weekly preparations for seminars/workshops in order to contribute to informal formative group assessments
      • Group work within the seminars will enable some consolidation of knowledge and understanding, introduction to informal formative assessments within these will also be set up for students to gain confidence of their understanding of the subject
      • Coursework will allow students to develop and demonstrate an independent understanding of topics and debates
      • The exam will enable the students to demonstrate a broader understanding of the subject and put together arguments

      Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

      Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
      Lectures 15 weekly 1 15
      Seminars 13 weekly 1 13 ■
      Workshops 2 1 per term 1 2
      Student Preparation & Reading Time 170
      Total 200

      Summative Assessment

      Component: Examination Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      unseen exam two hours 100%
      Component: Assignment Component Weighting: 50%
      Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
      essay 5 x sides A4 100%

      Formative Assessment:

      Continuous informal formative assessment will take place in the seminars and workshop. This is in addition to feedback on the summative assessment

      ■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University