Understanding Culture in the Modern World: Theoretical Perspectives

Course goals

• You acquire an overview of the most important theoretical perspectives used in cultural history and are able to critically assess these
• You learn to apply different theoretical approaches to cultural history

Content

This course is meant to help students grasp the position of cultural history as a field in the humanities/social sciences. Taking the approach of philosophy of science, it also includes the application of several important theoretical perspectives, e.g. anthropological approaches, postmodernism, postcolonialism, Science and Technology Studies, and the Frankfurt School. Thus it underlines the importance of the cultural, linguistic, performative, bodily and material turns in (cultural) history. Special attention will be paid to different theoretical perspectives on the concept of modernity. 

The entrance requirements for Exchange Students will be checked by the International Office and the Programme coordinator. Acceptance is not self-evident.