3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1021246ANR for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Languages & Humanities
Department
Linguistics and Literary Studies
Educational team
Sonja Lavaert (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
18 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The first part focuses on the project of modernity in which ideas of equality and freedom take shape in conjunction with a new vision on language. Religion, tradition and dogmas are questioned, freedom of thought and expression becomes to be central. According to this leitmotif, the following key figures are treated: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Marx, Gramsci. Part two deals with the criticism of modernity of the Frankfurter Schule (Horkheimer & Adorno, Benjamin, Marcuse, Habermas), the postmodern thinkers (Lyotard, Derrida, Foucault) and Arendt. The third part looks at current critical theories that build on this criticism with a reflection in which language practice is central. The following themes are addressed: biopolitics; multitude; postcolonialism (i.a. Agamben, Negri, Said, Spivak).

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Teksten en materiaal, Canvas
Course text (Required) : Taal en maatschappij. Inleiding in moderne en kritische theorieën, Sonja Lavaert, VUB, 2220170008486, 2021
Handbook (Recommended) : Vrijheid, gelijkheid, veelheid, Het moderne democratie-denken van Machiavelli tot Spinoza en zijn kring, Sonja Lavaert, VUBPress, 9789057187933, 2020
Additional info

The lectures alternate between digital with lecture recordings and live on campus (if necessary, the on campus-lectures are converted to live digital). All lectures are supported by a powerpoint presentation. Texts and film material are provided which the students read and/or listen to independently and about which they receive insight and essay questions at the exam. In addition, reading assignments and reflection questions are given for documentation, which are discussed during the live lectures.

Tutoring: by appointment with lecturer, e-mail, and electronic learning platform.

Learning Outcomes

Doelstellingen

  • Students have acquired general knowledge about social theories in relation to the language of the modern and contemporary world. 
  • Students are able to acquire and elaborate consolidated information about language and social theories in Dutch and another language.
  • Students understand the historical and linguistic nature of social systems of thought. 
  • Students are able to situate current social theoretical and cultural discourses in a global and historical perspective.
  • Students are able to take in consideration alternative approaches and different perspective. 
  • Students are able to argue a thesis. 
  • Students respect the values, norms and attitudes of other human beings.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
LEC Paper determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the LEC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Take home examen with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: Take home examen

Additional info regarding evaluation

The written Take home exam consists of open questions, reflection questions and an essay question about the content of the syllabus/book and lectures.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: French-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-English (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Dutch-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Spanish-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: Italian-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: German-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-German (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-French (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Italian (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Linguistics and Literary Studies: English-Spanish (only offered in Dutch)