Transcendence, Devotion and Desire (L3119A)

15 credits, Level 6

Autumn teaching

This module explores the human desire to go beyond ordinary experiences, starting from a phenomenological perspective—a way of studying how people experience and interpret the world around them.

We’ll examine themes like sex, drugs, death, war, cults, mysticism, secular transcendence, dreams, and false promises, looking at how devotion and desire shape human life. The module investigates how people form relationships with "gods"—broadly understood as powerful forces or ideas—and how these relationships create and influence the worlds we live in.

You’ll consider questions like:

  • What do different societies believe exists to be devoted to?
  • What stories do people use to explain their desires and devotions?
  • How do our bodies learn to crave and commit to certain ideas or forces, shaping our lives in deep ways?

The module offers a sociological approach to understanding the intense, often mysterious ways people connect with what they see as transcendent or greater than themselves.

Teaching

100%: Practical (Workshop)

Assessment

100%: Coursework (Portfolio)

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 150 hours of work. This breaks down into about 20 hours of contact time and about 130 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

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 2024/25. 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.