Discourse and cultural identities
The aim of this seminar is to consider discourse as a set of social practices through which identities are constructed. Taking an anti-essentialist view of identity, we shall consider ways in which identities are constructed and performed, and how this could be researched. We shall explore such identities which are considered to be the cornerstone of what it is to human, for example, race, ethnicity/nationality, gender, sexuality, age. But the course will also focus on what is sometimes referred to as ‘small identities’, such as being ill or a patient, disability, legal status, migrancy and others. We shall also consider the notion of articulation of identities.
Through historical and many contemporary examples, the course will explore the ways in which theoretical concepts around the discursive construction of identity can help make sense of 'cultural sites' around them.
Students will be expected to do design a small project
exploring identities and suggest a pilot study.
- Teacher: Dariusz Galasiński