Studying at York
Humans and Other Animals - SOC00064I
- Department: Sociology
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
Module summary
In this module you will discover what animals can tell us about the nature of human identities and structures of human societies. You will explore interdisciplinary case studies including zoos, pets, laboratory animals, fashion, livestock and pests and consider the continuing role of non-human creatures in creating and managing human identities and communities.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
Module aims
What can animals tell us about the nature of human identities and the structures of human societies? Without animals, modern society wouldn’t exist. While industrial society was built on animal power, most animals (pets and pests excepted) were excluded from the urban spaces they helped create and marginalised from academic understandings of human societies. In this module you will draw upon interdisciplinary case studies including zoos, pets, laboratory animals, fashion, livestock, pests and charismatic megafauna, both living and dead - even entirely imaginary animals. You will explore how non-human creatures continue to play important roles in creating and managing human identities, communities and social structures.
Module learning outcomes
Demonstrate an understanding of the role played by animals in human societies and culture over time
Assess the significance of animals in the production of both profit and knowledge in capitalist societies
Discuss a range of expert and lay opinions on the nature of animal life, and how this the use of animals in the construction of definitions of what counts as human
Critically analyse the role of animals in the construction of what counts as human and non-human
Demonstrate capacity to link academic scholarship with lived experience
Module content
Humans/Animals - what’s the difference?
At Home - can animals be people?
In Care - how do we manage animal death?
At Work - are animals part of the working class?
On Plates - what is the future of meat?
In Pursuit - why hunt animals?
On Display - what do we learn from looking at animals?
In Cages - why experiment on animals?
Animal Agency - can animals be people?
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
For formative work - blog post - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessments provide practice for the summative task, and in line with MLO 1-5.
For summative work - Essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with MLO 1-5. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well, and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.
Indicative reading
Brantz, D (ed) (2010) Beastly Natures: Animals, Humans and the Study of History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.