Utopian Cultural Politics and New Horizons (P3089)
15 credits, Level 6
Spring teaching
Ecological decline, finance systems run amok, crises of identity, community, politics and truth. We know what the problems are, and yet on the basis of that knowledge, we sometimes struggle to move forward; the future seems foreclosed. On this module, you’ll respond to this by exploring the utopian. You’ll consider the forms of imagination, culture and knowledge that have charted alternatives through history.
As you finish your undergraduate degree at Sussex, and look to new horizons, this module critically examines how different, and indeed competing, versions of the future have always been contained in culture (art, expression, struggle and ways of life). To do this, you’ll engage with key utopian texts in:
- critical theory
- cultural studies
- race and postcolonial studies
- environmentalism.
You’ll draw on diverse cases (for example, on sound and music, video, popular culture, the city and ecology) to evaluate how contemporary utopian imaginations can be valuable for life’s next stage.
We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum.
We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.
Courses
This module is offered on the following courses: