Social Change, Migration, and Identity 3700-ISSC-SCMI-SEM
Living in a postmodern society requires a constant negotiation of identity. The term “identity” itself is a complex notion involving or corresponding with various aspects, such as gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, education, memory among others. It has been a subject approached by scholars of various academic fields (sociology, anthropology, psychology), philosophers, literary critics and authors, and studied within a number of theoretical frameworks (postcolonial, postmodern, feminist, intersectional, hermeneutic). Part of the seminar will be devoted to the study of the concept of identity and how it links to the notions of individual vs collective identity, cultural identity, narrative identity, performativity, memory studies and others, based on the scientific, philosophical or literary texts as well as case studies. However, the main focus of the seminar will be the context of the contemporary social change, especially the formation of multicultural societies and supranational structures. Borders and territories are becoming less and less significant in shaping us, and the importance of interactions and forms of communication at the personal and intercultural levels is growing. Both, by going abroad and staying in one place, our identity changes under the influence of migration.
Identity is a dynamic, socially constructed concept sensitive to changes. On the one hand, it is a permanent set of characteristics of an individual or a group, and on the other hand, it is a result of relationships to others. The situation of migration requires a natural change of some aspects of our identity. When faced with a new reality, one can experience the situation they were not prepared for. Surrounded by an unknown language and foreign cultural norms, we search for places and people that make us feel comfortable and like “at home”. Emigration is not only the process of moving and settling in a new place. It is also a work on your identity. Often, it makes us more aware of what has shaped us, like our cultural background and norms, family and friends. We long for people and customs we left behind in our hometowns. At the same time noticing what we no longer need, what limited us and what was a burden for us. Thus, we have a chance to re-arrange our lives in our own ways. This process of change may be very difficult but consciously or not we experience a personality transformation, which, in the end, is valuable and life-changing for many migrants.
Our collective and individual identities are changing, and we surround ourselves with an increasing number of stimuli that influence it. The way identity changes affects various areas of our lives, including public debate. The aim of the classes is to explain and discuss this phenomenon, as well as show students an interdisciplinary approach – various methods of study and a variety of texts - related to the concept of identity and migration as well as prepare them to conduct research and take an active part in the public debate related to it.
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Efekty kształcenia
a. Knowledge
An alumni:
K_W02 - have a deep understanding of the relationships between various dimensions of social change, especially with regard to mobility
and crises. I am well-versed in the approaches to this process related to many scientific fields and disciplines.
K_W04 - have a solid grasp of the terminology used in social sciences and understand their role in culture.
b. Abilities:
An alumni:
K_U01 - possess the ability to evaluate information from a variety of sources, including scientific, journalistic, and popular science
K_U02 - have a strong understanding of basic numerical methods, enabling you to organize, interpret, and present data, particularly in the
context of social research.
K_U06 - capable of presenting the results of your individual or team academic work in a well-structured and persuasive manner, whether
in written or oral form
c. Social competences:
An alumni:
K_K02 - is able to work in team - also in a research team.
Literatura
Jenkins, R., (2002), Social Identity, Routledge London and New York.
Giddens, A., (1991), Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age, Cambridge: Polity.
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Anthias, F. (2012). Transnational Mobilities, Migration Research and Intersectionality. Nordic Journal of Migration Research, 2(2), –. doi: 10.2478/v10202-011-0032-y
Anthias, F., (2009), Translocational Belonging, Identity and Generation: Questions and Problems in Migration and Ethnic Studies, Finnish Journal of Ethnicity and Migration. 4 (1), pp. 6-15.
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Ricoeur, Paul. Time and narrative, vol. 3, trans. by K. McLaughlin and D. Pellauer, 1984, (excerpts)
King, Nicola. Memory, Narrative, Identity: Remembering the Self, Edinburgh University Press, 2000. (Introduction, Chapter 1)
Migrant cartographies: new cultural and literary spaces in post-colonial Europe, ed. by S. Ponzanesi and D. Merolla, 2005.
Cultural Identity and Postmodern Writing, ed. by T. D’haen, P. Vermeulen, Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2006
Taylor, Stephanie. Narratives of identity and place, Routledge, 2010.
Abbinnett, Ross. Culture and Identity: Critical Theories, Thousand Oaks, London, 2003.
Hermans, Hubert J.M., Hermans-Konopka, A. Dialogical Self Theory: Positioning and Counter Positioning in Globalizing Society, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
Meehan, Adam. Modernism and Subjectivity: How Modernist Fiction Invented the Postmodern Subject, Louisiana State University Press, 2020.
Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics, Routledge, 2002. (Chapter 3: Story: Character)
Sierz, Aleks. Rewriting the Nation: British Theatre Today, 2011
Więcej informacji
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