230318 Processes of Civilisation: A History of Manners (S) (WiSe 2025/2026)
Contents, comment
-
• How does one become ‘civilised’? What did it mean to become ‘civilised’, for a male or a female living in 1600? 1800? 1940? 2025?
• What were/are the incentives to ‘civilise’ oneself? In other words: why bother?
• Cui bono, i.e. who benefits if people accept that they must ever strive to ‘civilise’ their manners and their bodies further? What are the ‘advantages’ of a civilised society?
• What is the connection between ‘civilised’ manners and body management? What are the features of a ‘civilised’ body?
• What are the interrelations between checking and disciplining one’s animal impulses and feelings of shame? How are these related to the ability to empathise with others?
• When/Why did physical strength and aggression stop being a good guarantor of socio-economic success? What character traits/behaviour patterns took their place?
• Using a fork and blowing your nose into a handkershief are all very ‘nice’, but what is the link between these forms of body management and a successful career at court the 17th century?
• Which social groups were the first to become ‘civilised’? What were their motivations?
• By which means and media were/are people taught what ‘civilised’ behaviour looks like?
• How are texts that propagate normative behaviour, or punish deviant behaviour, to be interpreted? Subversion of the norm or containment of deviance? Abhorrence or celebration of man’s animal nature?
• How have people deliberately violated the rules of ‘civilised’ conduct in order to express social and ideological opposition to systems and figures of authority?
Bibliography
-
We will try to understand the ways in which the construction of the self (esp. of the body and its 'management') is shaped by social discourse and power and discuss the aforementioned questions by consulting Norbert Elias, Mikhail Bakhtin, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, and Judith Butler.
We will read extracts from early modern plays; conduct books; modern adverts and commercials, and others.
Teaching staff
Dates ( Calendar view )
| Frequency | Weekday | Time | Format / Place | Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| weekly | Di | 12-14 | 13.10.2025-06.02.2026 |
Subject assignments
| Module | Course | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-ANG-AngPM2.1_a Profilmodul 2.1: British Studies | 2.1.3 Literature and Culture | Study requirement
|
Student information |
| 23-ANG-AngPM2_a Profilmodul 2: British Studies | 2.3 Literature and Culture | Study requirement
|
Student information |
| - | Graded examination | Student information | |
| 23-ANG-AngVM6 Vertiefungsmodul 6: Media, Arts & Communication | VM 6.1 Theoretical and Historical Contexts | Study requirement
|
Student information |
| 23-ANG-Profil4 Profilmodul 4: Advanced British and American Studies | Profil4.1.Theories and Methods | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
| Profil4.2 British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information | |
| Profil4.3 British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information | |
| 23-ANG-Profil4_G Profilmodul 4_G: Advanced British and American Studies | Profil4.1_G Theories and Methods | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
| Profil4.2_G British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information | |
| Profil4.3_G British Literature and Culture OR American Literature and Culture | Study requirement
Graded examination |
Student information |
The binding module descriptions contain further information, including specifications on the "types of assignments" students need to complete. In cases where a module description mentions more than one kind of assignment, the respective member of the teaching staff will decide which task(s) they assign the students.
- Registered number: 19
- This is the number of students having stored the course in their timetable. In brackets, you see the number of users registered via guest accounts.
- Address:
- WS2025_230318@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de
- This address can be used by teaching staff, their secretary's offices as well as the individuals in charge of course data maintenance to send emails to the course participants. IMPORTANT: All sent emails must be activated. Wait for the activation email and follow the instructions given there.
- If the reference number is used for several courses in the course of the semester, use the following alternative address to reach the participants of exactly this: VST_554362804@ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de
- Coverage:
- 19 Students to be reached directly via email
- Notes:
- Additional notes on the electronic mailing lists
- Last update basic details/teaching staff:
- Sunday, May 4, 2025
- Last update times:
- Sunday, May 4, 2025
- Last update rooms:
- Sunday, May 4, 2025
- Type(s) / SWS (hours per week per semester)
- seminar (S) / 2
- Language
- This lecture is taught in english
- Department
- Faculty of Linguistics and Literary Studies
- Questions or corrections?
- Questions or correction requests for this course?
- Planning support
- Clashing dates for this course
- Links to this course
- If you want to set links to this course page, please use one of the following links. Do not use the link shown in your browser!
- The following link includes the course ID and is always unique:
- https://ekvv.uni-bielefeld.de/kvv_publ/publ/vd?id=554362804
- Send page to mobile
-
Click to open QR code
Scan QR code:
- ID
- 554362804