Race, the Floating Signifier

A series of flashcards summarizing key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the lecture on race as a discursive signifier.

Discursive Construct

A concept that is shaped and defined by discourse, rather than a fixed or biological characteristic.

Floating Signifier

A term used to describe a concept, like race, whose meaning shifts and varies depending on context and interpretation.

Sociocultural Definition of Race

An approach that defines race based on cultural, social, and historical factors, rather than biological ones.

W. E. B. Du Bois

An influential African American thinker and writer known for his works on race and sociology, including 'The Souls of Black Folk'.

Biological Concept of Race

A now largely discredited idea that race can be defined biologically or genetically.

Antiracist Politics

Political efforts aimed at combating racism and advocating for racial equality.

Cultural Function of Science

The role that scientific discourse plays in societal beliefs and definitions about race and human difference.

Historical Classification Systems

Systems used in the past to categorize people based on perceived physical differences.

Cultural vs. Biological Definitions of Race

The contrast between understanding race through cultural contexts rather than biological determinism.

Signifier

A symbol or word that represents an idea or concept, particularly in the context of language and meaning.

Racial Discrimination

The unfair treatment of individuals based on their race.

Common-Sense Assumptions about Race

Prevalent or accepted beliefs in society regarding race that may not be critically examined.

Transhistorical Meaning

The idea that certain meanings can remain constant across different historical contexts, which is challenged in the context of race.

Critical Inquiry

A scholarly approach that seeks to analyze and question existing concepts and assumptions, including those around race.

Cultural Heritage of Slavery

The collective memory and social implications of the historical experiences of enslaved people and their descendants.

Intersection of Nature and Culture

The relationship and interaction between biological aspects of humanity and cultural interpretations and constructs.