Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2026 - SA 887 G400

Special Topics in Sociology/Anthropology (5)

Politics Affect & Emotion

Class Number: 2888

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 7, 2026: Wed, 4:30–8:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Jie Yang
    yangjie@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-4297
    Office Hours: Wes: 4:00-4:30 pm or by appointment

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An advanced seminar devoted to an in-depth examination of a topic not regularly offered by the department.

COURSE DETAILS:

Special Topic: The Politics of Affect and Emotion

This course offers an overview of theories and research on emotion and affect, focusing particularly on the shift from locating emotions in the individual mind/psyche to anthropological, feminist, or poststructural accounts that understand what emotions/affects do in their cultural, historical, and political contexts. It engages recent developments in the burgeoning interdisciplinary affect studies in order to examine the relation of both conscious and non-conscious experience to broader social, economic, and political life. We address questions including: How have emotions and affect been defined and theorized? How might theorizing emotion and affect inform new modes of relationality, subjectivity, and governing?  What is at stake in how we conceptualize emotions and affect in relation to race/ethnicity, class, gender, and agency in the era of global neoliberalism and technological domination? A central focus of this course will be what role emotion and affect play in (indigenous and non-indigenous) psychological practice and mental health care. We will look at how sensibility, feeling, and affect have operated in the (bio)politics of diagnosing and treating mental health issues, including a consideration of the roles of the body, sensorial responses, aesthetics and emotions such as fear, disgust, apathy, desire, love, empathy, and compassion in the process of affective care labor, therapeutic practice, and therapeutic governing.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to achieve the following:

  1. Ethnographic research methodology
  2. ethnographic sensibility
  3. skills for critical thinking/analysis/writing
  4. professional communication/presentation
  5. collaborative competency
  6. synthesis/application

Grading

  • Discussion Leadership and Participation 25%
  • Mid-term quiz 15%
  • Essay abstract/outline and peer-review exercise 15%
  • Final essay 45%

NOTES:

Students will receive an N grade if they fail to complete one of the following assignments: discussion leadership and participation, mid-term quiz, or final essay. 

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Some of the readings in the syllabus are available as electronic resources through the Simon Fraser University library (URL to be posted). Other readings are available as PDF files on the website or email attachments sent by the instructor.

REQUIRED READING:

N/A

RECOMMENDED READING:

N/A

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.