A very wide range of research on contemporary issues (migration, radicalisation, political mobilization, populism, nationalism, fundamentalism, multi-culturalism, minorities, gender etc.) makes an abundant use of the three concepts of "identity," culture," and "religion." But these concepts are often considered as self-evident and tend to refer to each other. Identity is often used to "soften" a reference to religion, while religion, when not correlated to a cultural identity, is often referred to in negative terms (fundamentalism, radicalism). The expression "cultural identity" attributed to a community is rather redundant (what about a non-cultural identity?). By definition cultural studies tend to consider religion as an intrinsic part of culture, which is particularly evident in the field of "multi-culturalism".
The course will be a combination of keynote lectures and discussion of texts. Participants are required to write a paper where they reflect on how their own research connects with or relates to the required reading (see reading list below). The papers are presented and discussed during the course.
Who can apply? Open for all
Convener: Professor Olivier Roy, European University Institute in Firenze and Postdoctoral Fellow at Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages Maria Birnbaum
Application
Sign up by e-mail to kari.andersen@ikos.uio.no within 4 March.
ECTS Points:
This PhD course will give from 1 ECTS point for participation, and 3 ECTS points for participation and paper presentation.
Reading list
- Bauman, Z. (2000). Liquid Modernity. Cambridge: Polity Press. Ch. 5 - Community, pp. 168-201.
- Berking, H. (2003). ‘Ethnicity is Everywhere: On Globalization and the Transformation of Cultural Identity. Current Sociology, 51 (3/4), 248-264.
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Hall, S. (2002). Notes on Deconstructing ‘the Popular.’ Duncombe, S. (ed.). Cultural Resistance Reader. London and NY: Verso. pp. 185-192.
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Hunter James Davison, Culture Wars , chapter 3, Basic Books, 1991;
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Hunter James Davison, Culture Wars , chapter 4, Basic Books, 1991;
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Nussbaum, Martha. 1999. ‘Women and Cultural Imperatives’ in Nussbaum Sex and Social Justice, Oxford University Press.
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Nussbaum, Martha. 1999.‘Judging Other Cultures: The Case of Genital Mutilation’ in Nussbaum Sex and Social Justice, Oxford University Press.
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Roy, O. (2010). Holy Ignorance, chapter 4, “Culture and religion: the divide”