Whiteness. Race and the shifting codes of social privilege

The aim of the course is to examine the concept of whiteness and its functioning in different historical, social and cultural contexts. During our classes we will analyse ways in which whiteness is constructed within changing systems of status hierarchy and pose a question about its relationship to a category of race. We will draw on theoretical approaches adopted in „whiteness studies”, discuss the origins and development of this research field and relate it to wider studies on ethnicity, race and racism. Referring to the works of sociologists, historians and anthropologists we will show how whiteness has organized and defined different forms of social privileged that is still perpetuated by the cultural patterns of valorisation operating in Western and non-Western societies. In this context we will also discuss whiteness in connection with issues such as culturally conditioned perception of the body and ideals of beauty, whiteness and class, whiteness and gender, whiteness and colorism. During the course we will not only focus on scholarly works but will also consider representations and problematizations of whiteness that can be found in literature, visual arts, film or advertising.