Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Kalpana Ram kalpana.ram@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 4
Prerequisites	Prerequisites Admission to MRes
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit examines some key debates in the politics of knowledge over the last twenty years, debates which have emerged from social movements, and made a substantial impact on academic disciplines, including on anthropology. Some of the questions we consider are: Can non-elite ('subaltern') groups 'speak for themselves'? What role do intellectuals play in these movements? What are the different kinds of intellectuals and transnational flows of ideas and organisational networks that have been generative of social movements? And how necessary are intellectuals to social movements that emerge from subordinate and marginalised groups? And finally, how do we understand contestation and more broadly, human agency, outside the context of discourses and organised projects of social movements and intellectuals?

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Skills in using theoretical concepts Heightened awareness of knowledge systems that are marginalised Skills in writing and reading ethnography using theoretical concepts

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Class preparation and discussi	30%	No	Continuous
Essay 1	25%	No	Week 5
Book review	20%	No	Week 9
Research essay	25%	No	Week 12

Class preparation and discussi

Due: Continuous
Weighting: 30%

Showing evidence of reading, consideration and reflection on key readings for the week. Evidence based on contribution to discussion and use of Discussion preparation guide.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Skills in using theoretical concepts Heightened awareness of knowledge systems that are marginalised Skills in writing and reading ethnography using theoretical concepts

Essay 1

Due: Week 5
Weighting: 25%

consider how modern categories such as superstition, beliefs, tradition, dirt and ignorance have played a part in the politics of midwifery. How have midwives variously responded to this challenge?

You can address this question at one or two of the following levels:

- adaptations at the level daily practices

- at the level of organisation

- at the level of organised discourse, eg. feminist arguments as critique of biomedical birth

- else as just plain old ‘talking back’ to authority

On successful completion you will be able to:

Skills in using theoretical concepts Heightened awareness of knowledge systems that are marginalised Skills in writing and reading ethnography using theoretical concepts

Book review

Due: Week 9
Weighting: 20%

Review of one ethnography; using concepts learned in course either Foucault, de Certeau or Gramsci

On successful completion you will be able to:

Skills in using theoretical concepts Heightened awareness of knowledge systems that are marginalised Skills in writing and reading ethnography using theoretical concepts

Research essay

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 25%

You can choose any one of the types of social movements discussed in this course. In doing so:

Trace the different ways in which the movement contests dominant representations and forms of knowledge (use Gramsci’s concept of ‘hegemony’ to think about this), and attempts to produce new styles of discourse, new forms of knowledge.
In thinking about organisation and social movements, consider the transnational flows of theories, concerns and their re-localisation in particular places.
How do different kinds of understand ‘rub up’ in ‘friction’ (cf. Anna Tsing) against one another in the course of a coalition and mobilisation over specific issues?

On successful completion you will be able to:

Skills in using theoretical concepts Heightened awareness of knowledge systems that are marginalised Skills in writing and reading ethnography using theoretical concepts

Delivery and Resources

I Learn

Film clips

Images

Lecture short presentation

Seminar style discussion

E Reserve

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.