Sociology of the Future Video 2022-23

Hi, everyone. My name is Richard.

I'm the most convenient for social media the future,

which is a thirty-year optional module that you can

take in the autumn terms of twenty-two twenty-three.

So, in this video, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the modules.

So the questions which guided,

uh, the topics that we're going to be covering Um,

yeah.

Hi, everyone. My name is Richard Pattern.

I'm the model convenient for sociology of the future,

which is a third year optional module that you

can take in the autumn terms of twenty-two twenty-three.

So, in a short video, I would like to tell you a little bit about the module,

the questions that animated some of the topics that we're going to cover

and also say a little bit about my approach to teaching on it.

Yeah,

So the questions then, are those that you can see here now on the screen.

How does the way that we imagine the future

where we're imagining it in positive or negative terms,

then shape the actions that we do today,

the kinds of choices and decisions that we make in our everyday lives

and how different groups of people across

different cultures and societies and different times

as well See the future that they see the future differently to us.

And what degree is the future open and without limit to shape, as we would like.

Um,

to what extent is it actually already kind of locked in

by decisions and actions made by ourselves or our predecessors?

Who's choices and, you know, have kind of shaped the world that we live in today?

Yeah,

and the future, of course, is also about social struggles and contact station.

It's about power relationships as well.

So important questions that we asked the model is

who speaks to control and in the future,

is it something that's a matter for us, as as individuals?

Or do we find actually, that our futures are being shaped by the visions,

the imaginations of more powerful individuals within society?

And lastly,

we also engaged with the question about responsibility

and the extent to which we are responsible.

Can we be responsible, Um,

or at least held responsible for the actions that we

do that then shape the lives of future people.

So these are the questions that animate and guide. Um, this model

in terms of the kind of topics we're going to cover them, Uh,

in order to address those questions, Um, there are four of the topics to recover,

so we're going to look at afro-futurism so sort

of visions and engagement with maturity very much,

you know, come from and reflect,

uh, sort of black existence and the lived experiences of people of color.

We're going to look at climate change and the

idea of the Anthropocene that the Earth is moving

into a different geological epoch as a result of

the far reaching changes that human activity setting train.

And we're going to look at the history and

the continuing relevance of positive visions of more perfect societies

through the idea of utopia and how we can engage

with this both as a kind of cultural practice,

but also perhaps, um, as an underdeveloped elements of contemporary sociology.

And we're also going to look at feelings of future listeners as well.

So when individuals and groups fill their futures are

being for closed by the actions of others.

So in terms of my approach to teaching on this model,

so each week I deliver one hour interactive lecture and Then there will

be a two hour workshop in which we will look at the readings,

of course, with you the lecture material,

but also engaged in various group activities and exercises as well

in relation to the topics that we're going to be covering.

So if you're interested in these, uh,

these questions about how we imagine the future,

whether it's a positive or negative terms, interested in questions about power,

about who gets to shape and control the future and how the future is very much

a part of our everyday lives as well as in the wider culture around us,

then I think this

would be of

interest to you. So hopefully this video is answered.

All the questions that you might have about it.

Um, but if I haven't address something that you'd like to know more about,

then don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

You can see see my email address there on the screen,

and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have.

So thanks for watching the video and hope to see you on the module in the autumn.

Yeah,

Sociology of the Future Video 2022-23

Chapters

Audio TranscriptAuto-generated