Course Catalogue

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This course will ask what it means to be human and where the boundaries lie between the human, the animal, and the machine, questions which have become increasingly pressing since the emergence of industrial, modern society in the 1800s. Looking at a wide range of materials such as science fiction, short stories, graphic novels and theoretical texts, this course will consider how the notion of being human has been handled in modern society. One of the key questions we will ask is whether there are certain qualities unique to specific genres which enable us to engage with these issues.  

1 hour per week as scheduled in MyCampus. Classes will end in week 7 of semester 2 to accommodate students going abroad.

This is one of the Honours options available in SMLC and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into one of the SMLC Honours programmes, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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Type of Assessment

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ introduce students to theoretical studies of the human and the relationships between animals, humans, and machines

■ analyse texts and films which investigate the experience of being human

■ analyse stylistic strategies used by writers and filmmakers to investigate the concept of the human

■ teach students how to be reflective learners and effective communicators

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Debate major themes of the course (the relationships between humans, animals, and machines)

■ Distinguish how different media explore these themes 

■ Communicate their views in writing on a range of media

■ Select, evaluate and organise primary and secondary material relevant to the course themes

■ Reflect on their engagement with the course material
 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.