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| Semester | fall semester 2024 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Kenny R. Cupers (kenny.cupers@unibas.ch)
Ute Holl (ute.holl@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This seminar course explores spaces of encampment and containment from intersecting perspectives of urban studies and media studies. Starting from their historical experience, the course engages critical theories of the camp as well as its infrastructures, media, and urban afterlives. The course is divided into four parts. In the first part, “Camps as Historical Experience,” we start with an exploration of the first concentration camps and their relationship with colonial war and the rise of humanitarianism during the age of empire. Scholarship grounded in Cuba, South Africa, and Namibia raises important questions about decentering perspectives, about the alignment between military and humanitarian techniques, and about colonial continuities in European history. The second part of the course, “The Camp as an Object of Theory,” covers canonical theories of the camp such as Hannah Arendt’s and Giorgio Agamben’s. These raise questions about modernity, governmentality, sovereignty, and the making of the human as well as the politics of citizenship and asylum. The third part of the course, “Camps as Media Infrastructure,” homes in on aspects of design, technology, communication, and material politics. Here the relationship between the camp and the city comes into focus. The final part of the course, “Camp Afterlives,” continues to focus on the complexities of camps as lived experiences over time, as well as the politics of memory and heritage in spaces of encampment. |
| Learning objectives | A critical understanding of spaces of encampment and containment, their historical experience, the role in critical theory, their infrastructures and media, and their urban afterlives. |
| Bibliography | Recommended for preparation: Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarism, New York, Houghton/Miffin/Harcourt, 1959. (Particularly the Chapter on Concentrations Camps); Claudio Minca, «Geographies of the Camp», in: Political Geographies 49 (2015) pp. 74-83. Bülent Diken, Carsten Bagge Laustsen, «The Camp», in: Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 88:4, 443-452. |
| Comments | The seminar will be conducted in English. Note on Electronic Devices in Class: To enable open and uncensored discussion and protect the privacy of students, there is a zero-tolerance policy on any and all recording/surveillance devices in and around the classroom. Students Who Are Differently-Abled: If you believe that you are differently-abled/have a disability that impacts your studies, or you have documentation of such, please contact the instructor to think of alternative arrangements. |
| Admission requirements | Academic Integrity: Teaching is based on a relation of mutual trust. When we research, we use other people’s work to help develop our own: this is an essential part of academia. However, when you use someone else’s work, you must cite and reference it correctly. This lets the reader/listener know which parts of the work are your own, and which parts come from other sources. What that means is that anytime you draw from someone’s ideas or use their actual words, you must give the name of the author and the book in proper citation form. You are expected to adhere to the university’s regulations on plagiarism and the use of AI tools. All breaches will be acted upon promptly and firmly, resulting at least in a fail for the relevant piece of assessment and possibly in further action being taken by the instructor, depending on the severity of the offense. If in doubt as to what constitutes plagiarism, do not hesitate to contact the instructor. Academic Freedom and Respect for Difference In this course you will deal with topics that can be controversial. In class discussions, you are free to offer the class any disagreement you may have. You will not be penalized for disagreeing with other students, the readings or the instructors, but your perspective must be based on evidence and fair argument. Freedom of speech and ideas is a basic principle of academic life and every student will have a chance to express their opinion as long as it is voiced in a respectful manner. Respect for others’ differences in ability, race, ethnicity, religion, and gender is a prerequisite for us working and thinking together in this course. |
| Course application | Anmeldung über MOnA notwendig (services.unibas.ch). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 17.09.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 24.09.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 01.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 08.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 15.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 22.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 29.10.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 05.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 12.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 19.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 26.11.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 03.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 10.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Tuesday 17.12.2024 | 16.15-18.00 | Holbeinstrasse 12, Seminarraum |
| Modules |
Modul: Forschungsorientiertes Studium (Master's degree subject: Media Studies) Modul: Materialitäten (Master's degree program: Cultural Techniques) Modul: Theoretische Perspektiven MA (Master's degree subject: Media Studies) Module: Europeanization and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: The Urban across Disciplines (Master's degree program: Critical Urbanisms) Specialization Module Global Europe: Work, Migration and Society (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Specialization Module Global Europe: Statehood, Development and Globalization (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | You are assessed on a Pass/Fail basis. To pass this course, you are required to participate in discussion and submit three essays. 2. Two Critical Analysis Essays A critical analysis essay asks the writer to present a coherent reflection about a text or multiple texts, in this case all the week’s required readings. The goal of a critical analysis essay is to: (i) summarize and explain in your own words the key arguments that the authors are making; (ii) critically examine and compare the arguments, methods, and analysis of the different authors; and (iii) illustrate that you can think analytically about arguments and evidence. Each essay should be between 600-800 words long and should be posted on ADAM by Monday evening 5pm before the class to which the essay pertains. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Medienwissenschaft |