Introductory description

N/A

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

(1) What is an animal? Introduction to the module and to human-animal studies
(2) Co-evolution and social change - domestication
(3) Animals in industrial society – from beasts of burden to fashion accessories
(4) Kinship with animals
(5) Cultures of meat eating and farm animals
(6) Cultures of masculinity
(7) Social movements, animal welfare and animal rights
(8) Species, social construction and power – animal ethics
(9) Post-humanism and the animal challenge to sociology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Explain how relations between humans and animals have changed over time
• Evaluate different ways of theorising human-animal relations
• Critically assess the material and cultural significance of animals in different types of society
• Research, using a range of methods, the key social, political and ethical issues influencing the position of animals in contemporary societies

Indicative reading list

Baker, S. (1993). Picturing the Beast: Animals, Identity and Representation, Manchester:
Manchester University Press
Benton, 1 (1992) The Medieval Menagerie: Animals in the Art of the Middle Ages London:
Abbeville Press
Berger, J (2009) Why look at animals? Penguin Books
Birke, L (1994) Feminism, animals and science, Open University Press
Carter, B and Charles, N (2011) Human and other animals: critical perspectives, Palgrave
Cudworth, E (2011) Social Lives with Other Animals, Palgrave
Franklin, A (1999) Animals and Modern Cultures: A Sociology of Human-Animal Relations in
Modernity, London: Sage Publications
Fiddes, N. (1992) Meat: A Natural Symbol. London:Routledge.
Grandin, T and Johnson, C (2006) Animals in translation, Bloomsbury
Haraway, D. (2003). The Companion Species Manifesto. Chicago: Prikly Paradigm Press
Haraway, D (2008) When Species Meet, University of Minnesota
Irvine, L (2004) If you tame me: understanding our connection with animals, Temple University
Press
Manning, A and Serpell, J. (1994) Animals and Human Society. London:Routledge.
Midgeley, M (1989) Beast and Man: The Roots of Human Nature London: Methuen
Rowlands, M (2008)The Philosopher and the Wolf, London: Granta

Subject specific skills

A systematic understanding of key aspects of the field of sociology and human-animal relations, including: acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of a discipline;
An ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within a discipline;
conceptual understanding that enables the student:
An ability to devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and
techniques, some of which are at the forefront of a discipline;
An ability to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or
equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline;
An appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;
The ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline).

Transferable skills

An ability to apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;
An ability to evaluate critically arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgments, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;
An ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

• the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
• decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts
• the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.