Program Overview

Natures Cultures Module

The Natures Cultures module, coded as PI31025, is a 30-credit course offered at the University of Dundee. It is designed for individuals interested in exploring the entanglements between nature and culture.

Module Overview

This module delves into the complexities of nature and culture, challenging the traditional notion that culture separates humans from the rest of nature. Through a combination of interactive lectures and tutorials, students will engage critically and creatively with various philosophers, artists, and environmental humanities researchers.

Key Questions

Throughout the module, students will explore questions such as:

• Is nature something innate and determined, or open and creative?
• Is culture uniquely human or do animals, plants, and bacteria have their own forms of language, technology, and/or social relations?
• Should science be something we imagine and feel, as well as test and learn?
• How do technologies such as cloning or genetic modification affect how we understand ourselves and the natural world?
• In the current context of ecological precarity and climate change, what new concepts, collaborations, and modes of creative practice can help us care for multispecies worlds?

Learning Outcomes

In this module, students will:

• Learn about key debates, concepts, theories, methods, and approaches at the intersection of philosophy and the environmental arts and humanities
• Develop their critical voice within these discussions
• Work collaboratively with peers
• Develop the skills to undertake independent research using appropriate primary and secondary sources

By the end of the module, students will be able to:

• Engage critically and creatively with nature culture entanglements
• Understand key texts and movements at the intersection of philosophy and the environmental arts and humanities
• Exercise autonomy and initiative
• Work collaboratively with peers to foster debate and reflection in interdisciplinary contexts

Assignments and Assessment

The module assessment consists of:

• Weekly class exercises (30%)
• Essay (2,500 words) OR Creative Project with accompanying Scholarly Reflection (1,500 words) (70%)

There is no final exam for this module.

Teaching Methods

The module combines lectures and tutorials. Lectures are interactive and provide an overview of the weekly content, while tutorials allow for smaller group work, the development of close reading skills, and student discussion and debate. Independent study is also a requirement, encouraging increased participation and deeper involvement in the learning journey.

Available Courses

This module is available on the following courses:

• Art and Design courses
  • Undergraduate courses:
    • Art & Philosophy BA (Hons)
• Philosophy courses
  • Undergraduate courses:
    • Art & Philosophy BA (Hons)