50186 Utopias and Dystopias

UTS: Communication: Social and Political Change
Credit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks

Handbook description

This subject covers a close study of many models of political theorising, including both the Platonic and Aristotelian approaches: idealism versus critical analysis. It starts in detail with Republic as the fundamental utopian source and concentrates on More's Utopia as the well-spring of the modern visionary political tradition.

Topics investigated include Enlightenment utopias, Socialist utopias, Romantic utopias, Feminist utopias, Eco-utopias, and Cyber utopias. In particular, the utopia of Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time is studied at length and evaluated in depth.

Sources of the dystopian, such as class, wealth, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age, body-shape, 'abilities', competences, knowledge-inequality, religion and speciesism are critically assessed.

Utopias postulated by students are discussed and critiqued as an ongoing exercise.

Subject objectives/outcomes

The objectives of this subject are:

1. To have students develop a sharp and critical awareness of the role in political and social theory of idealistic and visionary models of 'perfect' societies and their polar opposites.
2. To have them gain an extensive knowledge of the history of such theorizing.
3. To enhance their ability to think about schemes for social and political reform.
4. To have them gain valuable experience in arguing for and criticising both historically important instances of utopian thinking and examples put forward by themselves and other class members.

Contribution to graduate profile

The knowledge acquired and the reflective skills developed in the course of successfully completing this subject will contribute to having students achieve the Faculty's desired graduate profile. This subject will help develop more thoughtful and socially-aware individuals, improve the quality of graduates' analytic thinking, assist graduates to develop as well-informed, inquiring, visionary and realistically optimistic citizens, enhance the social consciousness of graduates, and stimulate graduates towards a greater commitment to social justice and the improvement of their society.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject combines:

• lectures
• student-presentation based seminars
• discussions via the UTS Online facilities
• a critical research essay
• a creative essay on an envisaged utopia

There will be each week one three-hour in-class session, usually deployed as a one-hour lecture followed by a two-hour seminar.

Content

• Models of Political Theorising: the Platonic and Aristotelian approaches; idealism versus critical analysis. Republic as utopian.
• The Utopia: More's Utopia - how the modern visionary political tradition began.
• Enlightenment utopias - 'reason' as a negative norm of perfection.
• Socialist utopias and 'Socialism, utopian and scientific' - Fourier, Saint Simon and the young and old Karl Marx. Romantic socialism: William Morris v Edward Bellamy.
• Sources of the dystopian: bases of present discontent - class, wealth, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, age, body-shape, 'abilities', competence, knowledge-inequality, religion, speciesism - 'norms'. Communes, hippiedom, and Piercy's utopia.
• Science fiction and the utopian tradition.
• Feminist utopias.
• Environmentalist utopias v the Efficient City.
• Dystopias: the promises of science - eugenics and genetic engineering.
• 'E-topias' – virtual utopianism and cyber-visions.
• The Australian utopian tradition: From 'no-where' to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.
• Utopia and postmodernity: Can we keep dreaming of utopia?

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Tutorial Presentation

Objective(s):	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives, and especially a, c and d.
Weighting:	20%
Task:	Each student must prepare a sketch of an individual 'utopia' in which his or her own ideas of social and political perfection are expressed along the lines of the chosen week's theme: e.g. feminist, environmental, socialist, technological, anarcho-libertarian etc. The utopia must be written up in coherent note form and posted in the appropriate online forum during the week after the presentation. It should demonstrate a critical consideration of the reading for that week, as well as independent research into theory, history and current events. This task may be individual or group-work, as appropriate.
Assessment criteria:	Coherence of the utopian account presented. Evidence of engaging with set readings Evidence of additional research into theory, history and contemporary issues relevant to the topic Ability to stimulate class discussion. Creativity in style and content of presentation. Clarity of presentation. How 'realistic' (i.e. plausible and convincing in its contexts) the utopia is. Whether the alternative social habits and organisations described could be successfully adapted to actual human society. Whether the utopia includes as far as possible a 'total' social and political picture. What consideration there is of the implicit criticisms of present-day society. Accuracy and comprehensiveness of report posted online.

Assessment item 2: Critical Review Essay

Objective(s):	This task is designed to help achieve objective a
Weighting:	30%
Length:	2,000 words
Task:	Students are to submit a critical review essay which explores the theoretical context of an example(s) of the utopian/dystopian genre, developing an argument about the status of the utopian in philosophy of history, political ideology, literary or mass culture, or contemporary 'futurology'.
Assessment criteria:	Ability to identifiy and critically analyse utopian texts, arguments and theories. Evidence of engagement with set readings and of additional research. Evidence of reflection on the merits and flaws in utopias proposed for discussion and consideration, and of historical contextualisation. Identification of problems and assumptions implicit in utopias presented. Formulation of issues arising from these identifications.

Assessment item 3: Contributing To The Online Discussions

Objective(s):	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives, and especially d.
Weighting:	20%
Length:	2,000 words (minimum)
Task:	Each student must contribute to the online discussions that will be initiated on the subject's dedicated Discussion Board on UTS Online. These contributions, initially on topics assigned for in-class presentations, must amount to at least 10 interventions or submissions per individual and must total at least 2,000 words in length. The initial list of suggested topics may be augmented by the class-members during the semester. Discussion can be initiated by any member on any topic they believe relevant to this subject.
Assessment criteria:	Displayed ability to critically analyse utopian arguments and theories. Evidence of engagement with set readings and of additional research Evidence of reflection on the merits and flaws in utopias proposed for discussion and consideration. Identification of problems and assumptions implicit in suggested utopias. Formulation of issues raised by these identifications. Sustained and reasoned arguments for utopias proposed.

Assessment item 4: Creative Essay On An Original Utopia

Objective(s):	This is designed to help achieve all of the subject's objectives.
Weighting:	30%
Length:	2,500 words
Task:	To produce a coherent research essay, approximately 2,500 words in length, delineating and analysing aspects of an envisaged utopia.
Assessment criteria:	How well students show their understanding of the utopian genre. Evidence of engagement with set readings and of additional research How 'realistic' (i.e. plausible and convincing in their contexts) the utopias are. Whether alternative social habits and organisations described could be successfully adapted to human society. Whether the utopia includes as far as possible a 'total' social and political picture, (ie. how thoroughly and thoughtfully the logical consequences of its various innovations are woven through the social fabric How internally coherent and consistent their delineation is. Sophistication of the implicit criticisms of present-day society.

Minimum requirements

Students are expected to read the subject outline to ensure they are familiar with the subject requirements. Since class discussion and participation in activities form an integral part of this subject, you are expected to attend, arrive punctually and actively participate in classes. If you experience difficulties meeting this requirement, please contact your lecturer. Students who have a reason for extended absence (e.g., illness) may be required to complete additional work to ensure they achieve the subject objectives.

Indicative references

The set textbook for this course is: John Carey (ed) The Faber Books of Utopias, Faber & Faber, 1999.
In addition to this collection of extracts from important utopian works, the novel, Woman On The Edge Of Time, by Marge Piercy will be read in its entirety and discussed in detail.

General Readings (many more online)
Blisset, Luther. Q : The Dance of Death, trans. Shaun Whiteside, William Heineman, London, 2003.
Bull, Malcolm. Seeing Things Hidden: Apocalypse, Vision and Totality, Verso, London, 1999.
Bloch, Ernst. The Principle of Hope (three vols.), trans. Neville Plaice, MIT Press, Cambridge MA, 1986.
Claeys Gregory. Modern British Utopias 1700-1850, 1996.
Goodwin, Barbara. (ed) Special Issue of Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, on the topic 'The Philosophy of Utopia', Volume 3 Issue 2 & 3 2000.
Hodgson, Geoff. Economics and Utopia, Routledge, New York, 1999.
Kumar, Krishnan. Utopianism, 1991. Levitas, Ruth. The Concept of Utopia, 1990. Mumford, Lewis. The Story of Utopias, Kessinger, New York, [1922] 2003.
Ricouer, Paul. Lectures on Ideology and Utopia, 1986.
Robbins, Thomas and Susan J. Palmer, eds. Millenium, Messiahs and Mayhem: Contemporary Apocalyptic Movements, Routledge, New York, 1997.