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Linköping Institute of Technology

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Valid for year : 2003
 
TGTU16 Gender, Technology and Culture, 6 ECTS credits.
/Genus, teknik, kultur/

For:   C   D   I   Ii   IT   M   Y  

  Area of Education: Social Science

Subject area: Gender, Technology and Culture

  Advancement level (A-D): B

Aim:
Gender means social sex, and is a scientific concept used in the study of how what we take for granted about the sexes and their behaviour is more often cultural conventions than physical differences between women and men. The gender perspective is not the same as working for equal opportunities, neither does the perspective entail the demonstration and romanticising of biological differences between men and women. Instead, the assumptions we make in both academic and everyday life about sex and sexuality are analysed and problemized. What we believe is natural and therefore simple and understood often proves to be, with a gender perspective, considerably more complex and interesting, both culturally and biologically. For example, traditionally it is taken as a matter of course that thought is ?naturally? divided differently between women and men, which research has shown has dramatic consequences, not only for the knowledge produced scientifically, but also for male and female individuals? opportunities in various situations, even in academia. The course aims to give an introduction to a gender perspective on the interplay between technology, science and popular culture. The focus is on the intersection between basic gender theory, the theory of science and more recent cultural studies. Participants will have the opportunity to enhance their critical and epistemological competence, acquire fundamental knowledge about gender theory, and also have the opportunity to practice the critical analysis of scientific as well as popular cultural phenomena.

Prerequisites: (valid for students admitted to programmes within which the course is offered)


Note: Admission requirements for non-programme students usually also include admission requirements for the programme and threshhold requirements for progression within the programme, or corresponding.

Organisation:
Lectures and seminars. Time equivalent to 4 weeks is devoted to lectures and seminars with accompanying assignments. Time equivalent to 1 week is devoted to report writing.

Course contents:
Using gender theory as the point of departure, students should: 1) improve their ability to critically analyse scientific and popular cultural phenomena, 2) gain an increased understanding of how technical and scientific knowledge is generated in a social context, and under special cultural conditions. With the focus on the intersection between fundamental gender theory, the theory of science and more recent cultural studies, various concepts ? those of knowledge, culture, and science communication ? will be problemized. Examples are analysed, taken from everyday popular culture, such as advertising, popular science and science fiction films. Concrete examples are central (e.g. the film Blade Runner) and theoretical concepts ?for instance the cyborg idea as it has been used in a gender-, culture- and theory of science perspective.

Course literature:
Information when course starts

Examination:
Independent or group presentation of a synopsis (1-2 pages)
An independently- or group-written report (10-15 pages in total), which is presented and discussed at a seminar
Active participation in the seminars is a requirement for a Pass grade
0 p
4 p
0 p
 
The Pass grade given for the course is 3, 4 or 5.



Course language is Swedish.
Department offering the course: TEMA.
Director of Studies: Johanna Forssell
Examiner: Nina Lykke
Link to the course homepage at the department



Linköping Institute of Technology

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Contact: TFK , val@tfk.liu.se
Last updated: 05/03/2004