Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2018 - HUM 350 D100

Special Topics: Great Figures in the Humanistic Tradition (4)

Antonio Gramsci

Class Number: 12969

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Mon, 1:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An Interdisciplinary study of the life and works of a man or woman who has made a lasting contribution to the humanistic tradition in more than one field of endeavor(e.g. philosophy, politics, literature, economics, religion). This course may be repeated once for credit Students with credit for this topic under another Humanities course number may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course will provide an over-view of Antonio Gramsci who was one of the founders of the Italian Communist Party who famously claimed that with the Russian Revolution of 1917 that V.I. Lenin had made a “Revolution against Das Kapital.” He is, however, best known for his prison writings in which he elaborates the conception of “hegemony” as part of a larger explanation of the distinctive power of Western capitalist states in comparison with eastern ones such as Russia. In this course we will examine Gramsci’s life, major intellectual influences such as Machiavelli, Hegel, Marx, Croce, Sorel, etc., his major writings as well as their influences from Western Marxism, Cultural Studies, international political economy, and the French Novelle Droite.

Grading

  • Essay 1 20%
  • Essay 2 30%
  • Presentation 20%
  • Participation 20%
  • Protocol 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks

Peter Thomas, The Gramscian Moment: Philosophy, Hegemony and Marxism


Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS