Within this module we will look at the recent sociological upsurge of interest in the body.  As Williams (2003) notes, the body is now variously described as “an effect of power knowledge (cf. Foucault); the site of lived experience (cf. Merleau-Ponty); a metaphorical treasure trove (cf. Douglas); a form of capital and distinction (cf. Bourdieu); a product of the civilizing process (cf. Elias); an interactional or dramaturgical resource (cf. Goffman); even a leaky, fluid, uncontainable entity (cf. Irigary)”. Whilst this module engages with these arguments, it does so from a unique standpoint.  After introducing some key concepts, the module moves to examine how these concepts have been operationalised. This part of the module is focused around an examination of ‘real world’ research on the body and embodiment and methodological discussions surrounding how best we explore these areas.

• To introduce students to the idea of the ‘social body’ and to various theoretical perspectives which have considered this

   

• To enable students to explore the links between concept and indicator – and to consider how we can operationalise theoretical concepts on the body within empirical research

   

• To enable students to critically engage with research on the ‘social body’

Students completing this module should:

• Have a thorough familiarity with key concepts such as ‘the social body’, ‘embodiment’ and ‘reflexive embodiment’

   

• Have a broad understanding of a wide range of theoretical perspectives on the body/embodiment

   

• Have a good understanding of the methodological challenges involved in researching bodies and embodiment

   

• Be able to critically appraise empirical research on the body

   

·         Sociology of the body and the absent presence thesis

·         Body order/Body control

·         Body projects/body image/body schema

·         Researching embodied understanding and knowledge – Habitus, qualitative interviews/body techniques

·         Ethnography – from ballet to swimming

·         Auto-biography – and the embodied nature of field-work

·         Bodily representations and media analysis

• A role for quantitative analysis?

• 11 x 2 hour sessions comprising a lecture and interactive discussions and exercises

   

• Weekly reading and seminar preparation

   

• Ulearn discussions

Crossley, N. (2007) Researching embodiment by way of ‘body techniques’ in C. Shilling (ed) Embodying Sociology: Retrospect, Progress and Prospects, Sage

Okely, J.  (2007) Fieldwork embodied, in C. Shilling (ed) Embodying Sociology: Retrospect, Progress and Prospects, Sage

Seale, C., Cavers, D. and Dixon-Woods, M. (2006) Commodification of body parts: by medicine or by the media? Body & Society, 12: 25

Wacquant, L. (2004) Body and Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Williams, SJ (1995) Theorizing class, health and lifestyles: can Bourdieu help us? Sociology of health and illness, 17(5): 577-604

Wykes, M and Gunter, B. (2005) The Media and Body Image, Sage (esp chapters on images/screen).