MP789/889: Issues in Modern/Postmodern Culture (8 units)

Wilbert R. Shenk, Paul E. Pierson Professor of Mission History and Contemporary Culture
Ryan Bolger, Assistant Professor of Church in Contemporary Culture
Spring 2005 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

This seminar is offered for students doing advanced research in modern and postmodern culture in relation to Christian mission. Leading theories of modernity and postmodernity will be used to explore the interactions between religion, the self, globalization, generational change, pluralism, and relativism. Each student will identify and research a topic relevant to his/her doctoral program and write a paper that will be presented to the seminar.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• A knowledge of how social theory is used to analyze and interpret modernity and postmodernity.
• A working bibliography to support this writing project.
• The opportunity to present a first draft of the paper and receive feedback from peers.

COURSE FORMAT:

The seminar will meet a total of six times during the quarter, four hours per session: (1) the introductory session during the first two weeks of the term will be used to get organized; (2) weeks 3-6 students will be developing their projects; (3) during the last 3-4 weeks of the quarter each student will present the results of his/her research and receive critical feedback. During Enrollment in this seminar will be limited to twelve students.

REQUIRED READING:

The student will read a minimum of 1500 pages in order to become familiar with social theories and ascertain how to apply this to the student’s project.
• Bauman, Zygmunt. Postmodernity and Its Discontents. New York University, 1997.
• Bauman, Zygmunt. Liquid Modernity. Polity Press, 2000.
• Berger, Peter L. The Sacred Canopy. Anchor Books, 1967.
• Best, Steven and Douglas Kellner. Postmodern Theory. Guildford Press, 1991.
• Castells, Manuel. The Rise of the Network Society. Blackwell, 1996-98.
• Featherstone, Mike, ed. Postmodernism. Sage, 1988.
• Giddens, Anthony. The Consequences of Modernity. Stanford, 1990.
• Harvey, David. The Condition of Postmodernity. Blackwell, 1990.
• Lash, Scott. Sociology of Postmodernism. Routledge, 1990.
• Lyotard, Jean-Francois. The Postmodern Condition. Minnesota, 1984.
• Ritzer, George. The McDonaldization of Society. Sage, 1996.
• Turner, Bryan S., ed. Theories of Modernity and Postmodernity. Sage, 1990.
• Turner, Bryan S., ed. Religion and Social Theory. 2nd edition. Sage, 1991.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Lyon, David. Postmodernity (rev. ed., 1999)
• Lyon, David. Jesus in Disneyland: Religion in Postmodern Times (2000)

ASSIGNMENTS: The topic will be chosen in light of the student’s doctoral program plan and the paper should be at least forty pages in length, not including bibliography, and be prepared in conformity with the SIS Style Guide.

GRADING: A paper will be graded “satisfactory” (SA) or “unsatisfactory” (UN).

PREREQUISITES: To register for this seminar, a student must be enrolled in a Doctor of Missiology or Doctor of Philosophy program. Th.M. students are admitted by special permission of instructor.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: This eight-unit seminar is equivalent to an eight-unit tutorial.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Edited: March 28, 2005.