GEOG40970 Critical Geographies: Spatialising Power and Inequalities

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module offers students the opportunity to build their understandings of the spatialities of power and inequalities. With a focus on Critical Geographies, the module explores with students how, that is how power and inequalities are central to the creation of places, cities, rurals, regions, nations, transationalisms and scales, and how these in turn are formed through power and recreate inequalities. Areas for discussion will vary annually, and may include queer theory, feminism, intersectionality/critical race studies, postcolonialism/decoloniality, Marxism, radicalism, anarchism, non-representational theories.
Following expert introductions to key areas of critical geographies, students will work with the module co-ordinator to choose readings and scholarly and activist materials in their areas of interest. They will present these materials in class, developing discussions and everyone’s learning.
Assessment will be developed with the module co-ordinator and lead by the students, options include in-depth theoretical essays, explorations of key activisms/movements using materials and scholarly literature, videos or performances.

This is the core module for the MSc Programme on Critical Geographies, and students are encouraged to consider how they will co-create the module in line with its ethos: Antipode: https://antipodeonline.org/2020/02/06/teaching-critical-and-radical-geographies.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should have:
1. An ability to clearly articulate the spatialities of power and inequalities in their chosen area, demonstrating in-depth understanding theoretical and/or empirically
2. An understandings of the breath of critical geographies and its import.
3. Undertaken independent work to develop a topic area, source core readings, presentations skills and leading a discussion.
4. Created, developed and delivered an assignment that demonstrates an engagement with critical geographies and offers an in-depth exploration of the spatialisation of power and inequalities.

Indicative Module Content:

This module will begin with lecturers from the school of geography leading the discussions in their key areas, before opening out to student lead foci through assessed sessions.

Areas that can be covered include:
Queer Geographies
Feminism and gender Geographies
Critical and radical Geopolitics
Postcolonial and decolonial Geographies
Critical race geographies
Intersectional geographies
Anarchist geographies
Autonomist and Marxist Geographies
Academic-activist scholarship, writing and outputs

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

85
Autonomous Student Learning

70
Lectures

20
Total

175
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is built around an ethos of mutual learning. It brings a range of expertise and experience into the classroom through our discussions of readings/academic materials. It asks all involved to consider how this thinking does and might apply to spatialised power relations that define contemporary and past places, worlds and lives.

The module takes the form of weekly seminars. Initially you will be guided and facilitated through discussions based on key readings. In the latter part of the module student interests will be prioritised. You will direct readings, present ideas, and develop discussions that are based in contemporary issues and the scholarship on critical and radical tendencies in geography.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Reading summaries and participation Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

20
Assignment: Final assignment Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50
Seminar: Design and delivery of a seminar presentation and leading the discussion in a key area of interest Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

30

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given in written and oral formats. For seminar creation, feedback from class participation from peers and seminar leaders should be used. Feedback from seminars should build into final project report.

Name Role
Professor Kath Browne Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Alun Jones Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Carla Kayanan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Julien Mercille Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 13:00 - 14:50