| School/Faculty/Institute |
Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences |
| Course Code |
POLS 441 |
| Course Title in English |
Social and Cultural Theory |
| Course Title in Turkish |
Social and Cultural Theory |
| Language of Instruction |
EN |
| Type of Course |
Flipped Classroom |
| Level of Course |
Seçiniz |
| Semester |
Fall |
| Contact Hours per Week |
| Lecture: 3 |
Recitation: None |
Lab: None |
Other: None |
|
| Estimated Student Workload |
120 hours per semester |
| Number of Credits |
5 ECTS |
| Grading Mode |
Standard Letter Grade
|
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Expected Prior Knowledge |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| Registration Restrictions |
Only Undergraduate Students |
| Overall Educational Objective |
A survey of the leading schools of thought influencing the 20th century (Western) society and culture |
| Course Description |
This course provides a theoretical background on the main schools of thought shaping the 20th century (Western) society and culture with emphasis on arts, politics, philosophy, sociology and popular culture. It explores key texts from some of the most important thinkers of the 20th century such as Karl Marx, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Jean-Paul Sartre, Roland Barthes, Louis Althusser, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault, Edward Said and Jean Baudrilliard. It analyzes leading schools of thought such as critical theory, existentialism, structuralism, post-structuralism, postcolonialism and postmodernism via primary readings. The course evaluates the relevance of these theories to contemporary culture and society. |
| Course Description in Turkish |
Ders 20. Yüzyıl (Batı) toplumunu ve kültürünü sanattan politikaya; felsefe ve sosyolojiden popüler kültüre şekillendiren düşünce ekollerini anlamaya kuramsal bir temel sağlar. Karl Marx, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Jean-Paul Sartre, Roland Barthes, Louis Althusser, Friedrich Nietzsche, Michel Foucault, Edward Said ve Jean Baudrilliard gibi 20. Yüzyılın önde gelen düşünürlerinin önemli metinlerini inceler. Bu birincil okumalar eşliğinde eleştirel kuram, varoluşçuluk, yapısalcılık, post-yapısalcılık, postkolonyalizm ve postmodernizm gibi öncü ekoller analiz edilir. Ders, bu kuramların günümüz toplumuyla ilişkisini değerlendirir. |
Course Learning Outcomes and Competences
Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) Identify basic positions of some of the most important thinkers influencing the 20th century (Western) culture and society through interpretation of primary texts
2) Integrate the significance of interdisciplinary study in studying rich and complicated phenomena such as culture and society
3) Analyze the intricately interwoven relationships between arts and politics; popular culture and ideology; and sociology and philosophy in writing
4) Discuss the relevance of these theories to contemporary (non-Western / Turkish) culture and society
5) Question the significance and role of social sciences in 21st century contemporary society and culture
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| Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
| 1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. |
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| 2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts |
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| 3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice |
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| 4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. |
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| 5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software |
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| 6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies |
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| 7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems |
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| 8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies |
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| 9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life |
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| 10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
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Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences
| N None |
S Supportive |
H Highly Related |
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Program Outcomes and Competences |
Level |
Assessed by |
| 1) |
Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. |
S |
Exam
|
| 2) |
Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts |
S |
Exam
|
| 3) |
Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice |
S |
Participation
|
| 4) |
Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. |
S |
Exam
|
| 5) |
Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software |
S |
Participation
|
| 6) |
Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies |
N |
|
| 7) |
Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems |
S |
Participation
|
| 8) |
Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies |
H |
Participation
|
| 9) |
Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life |
H |
Exam
|
| 10) |
Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
H |
Exam
|
| Prepared by and Date |
BAŞAK KEKİ , January 2024 |
| Course Coordinator |
CANSU GÜLEÇ |
| Semester |
Fall |
| Name of Instructor |
Öğr. Gör. BAŞAK KEKİ |
Course Contents
| Week |
Subject |
| 1) |
Introduction |
| 2) |
Western Marxism: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels |
| 3) |
Critical Theory and Frankfurt School: Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer |
| 4) |
Walter Benjamin |
| 5) |
Existentialism: Jean-Paul Sartre |
| 6) |
Structuralism: Roland Barthes |
| 7) |
Louis Althusser |
| 8) |
Friedrich Nietzsche |
| 9) |
Nietzsche continued |
| 10) |
Post-structuralism: Michel Foucault |
| 11) |
Foucault continued |
| 12) |
Postcolonialism: Edward Said |
| 13) |
Postmodernism: Jean-François Baudrilliard |
| 14) |
John Berger: Ways of Seeing |
| 15) |
Examination Period |
| 16) |
Examination Period |
| Required/Recommended Readings | The Coursepack will include excerpts from:
Barthes, Roland. Mythologies, (trans.) Richard Howard and Annette Lavers, New York: Hill & Wang, 2012.
Leitch, Vincent B. (ed.), The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, Second Edition, New York: Norton & Company, 2010.
Nietzsche, Friedrich. Philosophy and Truth: Selections from Nietzsche’s Notebooks of the Early 1870’s, (ed. and trans.) Daniel Breazaele, London: Humanities Press International, 1979; and On the Genealogy of Morals, (trans.) Douglas Smith, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.
Sartre, Jean-Paul. Jean-Paul Sartre: Basic Writings (ed.) Stephen Priest, New York: Routledge, 2001. |
| Teaching Methods | Flipped Learning methods such as Perusall, class discussions, presentations and essays. |
| Homework and Projects | Short Response papers, presentations, weekly assigned texts |
| Laboratory Work | None |
| Computer Use | None |
| Other Activities | None |
| Assessment Methods |
| Assessment Tools |
Count |
Weight |
| Attendance |
14 |
% 20 |
| Presentation |
1 |
% 20 |
| Midterm(s) |
1 |
% 30 |
| Paper Submission |
3 |
% 30 |
| TOTAL |
% 100 |
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| Course Administration |
Email: kekib@mef.edu.tr
Attendance and active participation are required. There would be no late presentations and late papers unless medical report provided.
MEF university values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the code of student conduct and disciplinary procedures. Any improper behavior, academic dishonesty or plagiarism is subject to the YÖK Disciplinary Regulation.
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Information Package / Course Catalogue