Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Sociology (English 30%) · Undergraduate
ECTS: 5 T+P+L: 3+0+0 Departmental Elective
Coordinator: Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Burcu SAĞLAM SARIKAYA
Course Objective
The aim of this course is to understand the concept of postmodernity, which has brought innovation and transformation to the social sciences methodologically and conceptually and has been the focus of interest in the academy in the last 30-40 years, through primary and secondary sources.
Course Content
It is aimed to discuss the concept of postmodernity in the context of its relationship with modernity, to learn the main discussions and basic concepts of the pioneers of the postmodernist approach. At the same time, theoretical approaches to modernism and postmodernism will be discussed in relation to everyday life and political debates.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Compare and explain the major theoretical approaches to modernity and postmodernity.
- Analyze contemporary social phenomena by applying key concepts of postmodern theory, such as simulation, consumer culture, identity, time–space compression, metanarratives, and representation.
- Critically evaluate the theoretical perspectives of major thinkers such as Lyotard, Baudrillard, Harvey, Hall, Featherstone, Jameson, Habermas, Giddens, and Latour by comparing their similarities and differences.
- Interpret the social, cultural, and political implications of postmodern transformations in media, urban life, consumption, identity, and everyday life from a social science perspective.
Core Area Distribution
(22) Humanities%100
Teaching Methods
ExpressionQuestion-AnswerDiscussionPresentationSimulationBrain StormingCase StudySelf studyProblem Solving
Assessment & Evaluation
Performance Assignment ( Lab / Workshop / Field Work / Seminar / Presentation / Completion Study / ThesisTesting (Essay / Tests: True-Falls, multiple-choice, short answer, matching)
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 16 | 2 | 32 |
| Midterm | 1 | 13 | 13 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Practice | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Final | 1 | 20 | 20 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the Course | Information about the course syllabus |
| 2 | What is modernity? | Marshall Berman – “Katı Olan Her Şey Buharlaşıyor”, Giriş, s. 27-60 & Birinci Bölüm, s. 61-124 |
| 3 | Crises of Modernity | Max Weber – Meslek olarak bilim Adorno & Horkheimer – Aydınlanmanın Diyalektiği- Kültür Endüstrisi (s. 162-222) |
| 4 | Transition to postmodernity: rupture or continuity? | Jean-François Lyotard – Postmodern Durum Daniel Bell- Modernizm, Postmodernizm ve Ahlak Düzeninin Çöküşü |
| 5 | Simulation and Representation Crisis | Jean Baudrillard – “Simülakrlar ve Simülasyon” - Gerçeğin Yerini Alan Simülakrlar (s. 13–32) & Hipermarket ve Hipermal (s.111-116) |
| 6 | Postmodern Subject: The Fragmentation of Identity and the Subject | Stuart Hall – “The Question of Cultural Identity” Z. Bauman, Postmodernlik ve Hoşnutsuzlukları, Giriş (7-12) ve (VI. Turistler ve Aylaklar 116-132) |
| 7 | Consumer culture | Mike Featherstone- “Postmodernizm ve Tüketim Kültürü” (II. Tüketim Kültürü Teorileri s.36-58 & VI. Hayat Tarzı ve Tüketim Kültürü s.141-158) |
| 8 | Mid-Term Exam | Mid-Term Exam |
| 9 | Postmodern Space and Time | David Harvey, Postmodernliğin Durumu, 16. Zaman-Mekan Sıkışması ve Modernizmin Kültürel Bir Güç Olarak Yükselişi s.291-316 & 17. Zaman-Mekan Sıkışması ve Postmodern Durum 317-341 |
| 10 | Lyotard and Postmodern Game | Mike Featherstone – “Postmodernizm ve Tüketim Kültürü” (VII. Kent Kültürleri ve Postmodern Hayat Tarzları s.159-184) |
| 11 | Postmodernity and Media | Douglas Kellner – Medya Gösterisi- Giriş |
| 12 | Marxist Critique of Postmodernity | Fredric Jameson – Postmodernizm ya da Geç Kapitalizmin Kültürel Mantığı (Postmodernizm kitabı, 59-116) Terry Eagleton – Postmodernizmin Yanılsamaları- “Safsatalar” ve “Çelişkiler” bölümleri (113-158)- |
| 13 | Critiques 2: Defending Modernity | Jürgen Habermas – Modernlik: Tamamlanmamış bir proje (Postmodernizm kitabı, 31-44)- Sueda Nur Alex Callinicos – Postmodernizme Hayır (“İyi de Yeni Olan ne?”s.188-236) |
| 14 | Has postmodernity ended? | Anthony Giddens – Modernite ve Bireysel Kimlik (Giriş & 1. Bölüm s. 11-52) Bruno Latour- Biz Hiç Modern Olmadık: Kriz s. 7-19 & Modern Anayasa, Boyle ve nesneleri, Hobbes ve Özneleri s.21-29 & İnsan Olmayanın Tanıklığı s.32-34, Bilimsel Temsil ve Siyasal Temsil s.38-40, Anayasanın Aydınlattığı ve Kararttığı s. 52-55 & Biz Hiç Modern Olmadık 59-61 |
| 15 | Discussion | All materials |
| 16 | Final Exam | All materials |