552.312 (19W) Focus on Culture: Humans and Other Animals – Investigating Speciesist Realities

Wintersemester 2019/20

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
14.10.2019 12:00 - 14:00 N.0.45 On Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Lecturer
Course title german Focus on Culture: Humans and Other Animals – Investigating Speciesist Realities
Type Seminar (continuous assessment course )
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 6.0
Registrations 8 (20 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
Course begins on 14.10.2019
eLearning Go to Moodle course

Time and place

List of events is loading...

Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

Nonhuman animals are an integral part of human societies through their presence as companion animals and movie characters, as bearers of wisdom in fairy tales and ancient myths; but also as involuntary providers of commodities like leather, fur, down, wool and food, as test objects in medical research facilities, and as trophies hunted in the wild. Their presence is ubiquitous and their pervasive influence is felt in nearly all aspects of human life. Some are much loved and well cared for, while others remain nameless and faceless objects turned into commodities for human use. Most human-animal relationships are shaped by speciesism, which is defined as a prejudice similar to racism or sexism. It allows humans to discriminate and exploit nonhuman animals and “to do with animals as they please” because they are “only animals.” Defining this attitude towards nonhuman animals and giving it a name is an attempt to make this form of discrimination visible and emphasize the importance of considering its real-life consequences. Richard Ryder, who coined the term in 1970, says that “the struggle against speciesism is not a sideshow; it is one of the main arenas of moral and psychological change in the world today. It is part of a new and enlarged vision of peace and happiness” (2000).  This struggle is meaningful in an age of “new media, climate change, environmental catastrophe, terrorism, biotechnology, population growth, and globalization,” which are issues that “require a change of perception — a new, less anthropocentric, vision for a new century” (Vandersommers, 2016). First and foremost, however, this struggle is meaningful for nonhuman animals in their own right.

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

lecture, class discussion, group work, oral and written student contributions 

Course content

Course participants will:

- be introduced to the field of Human-Animal Studies

- develop an understanding of joint systems of oppression affecting human and nonhuman animals

- understand mechanisms and opportunities of social change

- improve academic speaking skills in English

- improve academic writing skills in English

Prior knowledge expected

English at level B2 or higher; the course is open to incoming students, teacher trainees, and  generally individuals with an interest in the subject matter


Literature

will be announced in class

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination methodology

regular attendance (and active participation), oral contribution (in-class presentation), written end-of-term assignment (the specifics will be announced in class at the beginning of the course)

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 15W.3)
    • Subject: Fachliches Vertiefungsstudium (Compulsory subject)
      • 7.3 (c) Focus on Culture ( 0.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
        • 552.312 Focus on Culture: Humans and Other Animals – Investigating Speciesist Realities (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 4., 5. Semester empfohlen
  • Bachelor's degree programme English and American Studies (SKZ: 612, Version: 15W.3)
    • Subject: Freie Wahlfächer (Optional subject)
      • Freie Wahlfächer ( 0.0h XX / 20.0 ECTS)
        • 552.312 Focus on Culture: Humans and Other Animals – Investigating Speciesist Realities (2.0h SE / 6.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

This course is not assigned to a sequence of equivalent courses