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Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Soci...

Graduate Seminar on Contemporary Social Theory

HAN, Sang-Jin

hansjin@snu.ac.kr

02-875-8474

Fall Semester 2009

Department of Sociology, Seoul National University

Thursday 4:00 – 7:00 PM

Sang-Baeg Seminar Room

Theoretical Objective

The purpose of this seminar is to investigate three methodological issues of critical theory suggested by the instructor within the Korean (East Asian) context of development. Originated from Marx and European enlightenment traditions, critical theory in this seminar refers primarily to the theoretical innovations initiated by J. Habermas, U. Beck, and A. Giddens, among others. Such figures as M. Foucault, P. Bourdieu may be included if requested by the registered students. The three methodological issues include:

1) Social analysis of self-destructive tendencies of social formation – for instance, ‘contradictions,’ ‘crises,’ and ‘risks’ – as a consequences of rapid modernization;

2) Human Agency to whom critical theory addresses itself, and who are more capable than others of understandings the problems at hand and also struggling for an actor-based participatory approach;

3) An alternative vision of the future normatively supported by cultures and traditions. This vision, if institutionalized, may open up a new space of development by overcoming the overloaded problems according to new principles of social organization.

The seminar is aimed at a concrete analysis of these three issues by dealing with the pertinent social theories and the experiences of the transitional as well as the post-transitional development in the age of globalization.

Historical References

Apart of theoretical texts, students are expected to pay attention to concrete problems in the world as the object of social analysis, which may include:

1) The tendency of socio-economic polarization in its various dimensions;

2) The socio-political intensification of conflicts and cleavages;

3) The dispersion and penetration of high consequence risks in everyday life and the world;

4) Communication ruptures and cultural contradictions.

As to the issue of human agency, we may consider the role played by such groups as:

1) The major actors of industrialization;

2) The major actors of democratization;

3) The major actors of the 2002 World-Cup street cheering;

4) The major actors of the 2008 citizens’ candle-light marches.

As to the alternative new vision of the future, students are expected to pay special attention to the idea of “reflexive” modernization, which needs to be scrutinized with respect to:

1) The conceptual clarification of what the term actually means.

2) The relationship between reflexive modernity and the normative layer of tradition;

3) Concrete (empirical/historical) examples revealing the feasibility and viability of reflexive modernization;

4) The impacts of reflexive modernization to the given society and politics.

Language

The language of the seminar will be English. The students are strongly encouraged to write papers in English and also participate in class discussion in English. When the issues or topics are exceeding complex, however, the students may join the discussion in Korean rather than being silent.

Entry Conditions

The students who want to take this seminar are required to prepare a short research proposal in advance and submit it to the instructor via email (hansjin@snu.ac.kr) no later than August 30, 2008. The proposal should make clear:

1) How the student deals with the issue of social analysis by sorting out an important problem to be investigated;

2) How the student deals with the issue of human agency by sorting out an important social group to be investigated;

3) How the student deals with the issue of an alternative vision of the future by sorting out the aspect of reflexive modernization to be investigated.

Needless to say, the proposal can be modified as seminar moves on reflecting the students’ changing research interests. Based on the proposals, however, the students will be assigned to research teams with the shared interests. As members of these teams, students are expected to conduct a field research together to deal with the second issue of human agency. This means that students are expected to write three papers of which the second one must be done as a field research. The students are encouraged to write the proposal in English although the proposal in Korean will be accepted.

Obligations

1) The students should submit a research proposal as explained above.

2) The students should submit two papers in due date dealing with the first and third issues.

3) The students should submit a team-based report of field research dealing with the second issue (human agency)

4) The students are expected to take part in class discussion actively.

Reading Assignment

The students should read the initial reading assignments to prepare the research proposal of the three methodological issues. The students are advised to read the instructor’s article first. In addition to the suggested initial list, it is desirable that the students read major texts of critical theory written by Habermas, Giddens, and Beck, among others. The full syllabus will be provided in the beginning of the semester.

# by 류현 | 2008/07/24 14:22 | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

080723

목요일 저녁부터 일요일까지 이사람 저사람 만나느라 빈틈이 없게 생겼다. 몸과 지갑이 바쁘겠군..-_-. 그래도 이번 주 초반에는 출제와 숙제를 싹 끝낸 덕분에 간만에 여유가 있는건지 늘어지는건지 생각이 많은건지 모를 한 주를 보내고 있다. 좋은 일이지만 좋지 않은 일이기도 하다. 게다가 주초의 그 사건 아닌 사건 덕분에 참..;

정말 간만에 점심시간에 방에 들어와서 음악들으며 쉬고 있다. 원래는 점심시간마다 빼놓지 않고 운동을 하는데 어제오늘 너무 무리한 탓에 온몸이 뻐근해서 오늘은 패스. 어제 알게 된 고무적인 사실인데 2마일을 무려 13분 30초 안에 뛸 수 있게 되었다. 것도 이미 30분 정도 뛰고 땀 쭉 뺀 상태에서 뛰었던건데. 아마 컨디션 좋은 상태면 12분 30초도 가능할듯? 그러나 오늘 새벽에 일어나기가 매우 매우 힘들었다. 흑.

얘기가 오가고 있는 수준이긴 한데, 연말에 2010수능을 대비해서 언어영역 종합편을 하나 내게 될는지도 모르겠다. 아 책 내면 하나씩 사서 저자에게 인세를 ...-_- 도와주세염.. (응?)

# by 류현 | 2008/07/23 12:52 | Daily Life | 트랙백 | 덧글(1)

오늘의 음악

간만에 조지 윈스턴으로.

Cloudy This Morning

Living Without You

# by 류현 | 2008/07/22 14:50 | Music | 트랙백 | 덧글(5)

범죄자의 이론

잊기 전에 기록. 계몽의 변증법에서 가장 반(反)헤겔적인 부분은 바로 스케치와 단상들 중 '범죄자의 이론'이다.

범죄자의 이론

# by 류현 | 2008/07/22 00:02 | Fragmentaries | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

truth lies within silence
silence of truth

As it is, truth has nothing much to say.

# by 류현 | 2008/07/19 11:34 | Unidentified | 트랙백 | 덧글(0)

080718

한 시 퇴근. 늘어지게 자고 일어났더니 다섯 시. 토요일에 잡혀있던 태홍이형 및 형의 사촌동생과의 약속은 형이 캔슬을 통보해서 내일은 종일 비게 생겼다. 철학과 심리학에 관심이 있는 고등학생에게 동기부여를 해줄 만한 대학생이라니. 쩝;

슬슬 씻고 선생님 뵈러 다녀와야지. 너무 많은 것들이 휙휙 정신없이 돌아가서 좀 지쳐버렸다. 주변의 무엇 하나라도 좀 stabilized됐으면 좋겠다. 아무리 멀티태스킹에 능하다고는 하지만 이 정도는 좀 무리야.

# by 류현 | 2008/07/18 18:17 | Daily Life | 트랙백 | 덧글(3)

080716

종일 비가 쏟아지는 찌뿌둥한 날씨에 온몸이 늘어지고 풀어져서 기운없는 하루였다. 흐아 이런날은 낮으로 밤으로 늘어지게 디비자야되는데 밤을 새야 하는 날이니 원. 풀어진 온몸 탓에서인지 아무것도 제대로 손에 잡히는 게 없다. 할 일은 많은데. 재워줘 흐갸ㅠ_ㅠ

아참 보쌈이 먹고싶다. 맛있는 보쌈도 좀..ㅠ_ㅠ

# by 류현 | 2008/07/16 21:15 | Daily Life | 트랙백 | 덧글(2)

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