[Wesleyan Home Page]
[Wesmaps Home Page]
[Availability Statistics Search]
[Course Description Search]
[Dept. Search]
ANTH395
Making the Underclass
ANTH395 SP
Crosslistings: CHUM395, AFAM395
Photo Caption and Credits
Next Offered in 9798 SP
This seminar critically examines the construction of the
"ghetto underclass" in the social sciences and mass media
as a means of exploring broader theoretical issues
concerning the interrelation of power, discourse and
identity. These questions include: how do power relations
shape, channel and configure knowledge claims, images and
meanings and identities inhabited, contested and transformed
through cultural/political practices? How do we
conceptualize the relationship between constructions of the
"Underclass" and changes in global and national political
economies, often referred to as "postindustrialism"? A major
emphasis in this seminar will be placed upon rethinking the
concepts of "ideology", "hegemony" and, indeed, "poverty"
within the framework of a post-structuralist perspective
on power.
MAJOR READINGS
Mike Davis, CITY OF QUARTZ; Michale Katz,
THE UNDERSERVING POOR; Nancy Fraser, UNRULY PRACTICES
(excerpts); Michel Foucault, THE HISTORY OF SEXUALITY (vol.
1); Manuel Castells, THE INFORMATIONAL CITY (excerpts); Jean
and John Comaroff, OF REVELATION AND REVOLUTION (excerpts);
and selections from Stuart Hall, Ernesto Laclau, Chantal
Mouffe, bell hooks, Ian Hacking, and William Julius
Wilson.
EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS
To be announced.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS
Students will not
be admitted to the course after the first class meeting.
Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting
or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the
first class, they will be dropped from the class list.
NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form
to the Registrar's Office.
COURSE FORMAT: Seminar
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Level: UG Credit: 1.00
Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS ANTH
Prerequisites:
None
Last Updated on MAR-10-1997
About the Photo:
Reference:
Holdt, Jacob. AMERICAN PICTURES. Copenhagen,
Denmark: American Pictures Foundation, 1985
Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to
submit comments or suggestions.
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459