SOC3044 : Imagined Communities (Inactive)
- Inactive for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Dariusz Gafijczuk
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to contemporary and historical examples of 'imagined communities'. The students will engage the content through such phenomena as the invention of geo-political regions and collective identities, such as the notion of Europe and the region of Central Europe; nations and nationality; political and local communities; online communities and so on. The module will explore the relationship between history and the present, culture and society focusing particularly on the process of imagination as an active social force. Students will encounter a variety of innovative approaches and problems in relation to cultural history and sociology, current events and global problems investigating the construction of specific places and the identities that are created to support these. In this sense, parallels between past and present, as well as issues that are unique to collective identity-construction an imagined community, will be emphasized. Special attention will be paid to the concepts of invention and design of perceptions, perspectives and ‘structures of feeling’ through which communities find a point of orientation towards the larger social world.
Outline Of Syllabus
INDICATIVE CONTENT MAY INCLUDE BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:
Introduction to the theoretical and historical context of imagination as a method of inquiry;
the Invention of Europe through imagined geographies; Invention of Nations as imagined communities; the Self as imagined center; Re-Imagining the past through tradition; Ideology as a challenge to imagination; the Digital Selves and online communities; Imagined and Re-imagined Threats; Imagining a Better World, etc.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Timetabled in person session (2hr x 11 weeks) |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Timetabled in person seminar |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 137:00 | 137:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Online Q&A sessions relating to content and assessment (1hr x three sessions) |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Just like this past year, for the academic year 2023/24 I plan to continue with mostly present-in-person teaching, as this has been the stated student preference reflective of student feedback locally and in larger surveys conducted nationally by the Office of Students.
This approach will deliver key knowledge and concepts with regard to theory and methods and relate these to the sociological issues of contemporary relevance. Through live instruction, as well as guided independent study of materials students will be able to interrogate theoretical constructs working with concepts and various epistemic frameworks. Through online methods and theorizing activities, students will practice working with methodological tools and theoretical paradigms. The live delivery will further the accumulation of knowledge and development of analytical skills by performing a series of tasks designed to put this knowledge to use.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | 35 | 1000 word essay on an assigned question |
| Essay | 2 | M | 65 | 2,500 word research essay on assigned question |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2 | M | Non- Compulsory Essay outline |
| Essay | 2 | M | Non-Compulsory Essay outline |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The essays will test and encourage students to critically engage with cultural and social realities – past and present. They will also encourage direct, creative engagement with core concepts surrounding identity construction and its relationship to social environments, including physical spaces and the role of imagination as a structuring force.
The research essay will give students the opportunity to explore more formal conceptualizations of collective identity as well as sharpen their analytical skills by engaging with a theme in-depth.
The short paper will provide an opportunity for students to test their understanding of conceptual and factual/historical information in relation to one of the major themes which can then be effectively used in the final essay, as support materials for more engaged discussion.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SOC3044's Timetable