This 15-credit option will look at the nature of the security and surveillance industry. It primarily focuses upon non-state forms of surveillance in Britain. Throughout the module stress will be placed upon: -

Sources of insecurity and the rise of the risk society (employment, commerce and in personal relationships) and the consequent need for surveillance
Privatisation and marketization
Ethical issues in security and surveillance.
The role of non-state of surveillance in sorting the population.
Theoretical approaches to surveillance associated with Marx, Weber, Foucault and Lyons.
Employment opportunities in the security & surveillance industries

Amongst the topics which will be examined are: -
The private security industry
Tailorization and MacDonalization
The personal information economy
Market research
Consumer surveillance (e.g. of schools, uSwitch, etc.)
The mass media and its role in surveiling the powerful and calling the powerful to account
The family as a site of surveillance
Personalised-forms of surveillance and the synopticon
The occult including Astrology & Tarot

Key Information Set:
16% scheduled activities, 84% independent guided study

The 16% schedule activities will consist of: -
Ten traditional lectures
Ten seminars
One introductory session (2 hours)
One feedback session (2 hours)

Seminars will be based on a 'soap opera' in which students reflect upon and discuss the experiences of a fictional family in North Wales.
The 84% independent guided study will consist of: -
Guided reading
Secondary and internet research
Preparation for scheduled sessions
Primary research (for the case study)
Completion of case study

To supplement the lectures detailed lecture notes and other materials will be available to students on Blackboard.

Bennett, C.J. and Lyon, D. (ed., 2008) Playing the Identity Card. London: Routledge.
Ball, K, et al. (2006) A Report on the Surveillance Society.
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/surveillance_society_full_report_2006.pdf [23rd December 2008]
Lace, S. (ed., 2005) The Glass Consumer: Life in a Surveillance Society. Cambridge: Polity
Lyon, D. (2007) Surveillance Studies: An Overview. Cambridge: Polity http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=X_XcZS5BmuQC&pg=PP1&dq=Surveillance+Studies+An+Overview [23rd April 2009]
Solove, D. (2004) The Digital Person: Technology and Privacy in the Information Age. New York:

Library based Resources
Computers with Internet Access for Accessing Blackboard
Rooms suitable for group work

A case study of 2,500-word of a form of surveillance or surveillance site[Learning Outcomes 1-4]

Key Information Set:
100% coursework