Duration
45h SEM
Number of credits
Lecturer
Substitute(s)
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This seminar focuses on the mythologies of energy transition.
Among the discourses and practices that attempt to respond to the ecological crisis, the idea of energy transition dominates: it consists in seeking technological solutions to reduce energy consumption and replace fossil fuels with so-called sustainable resources. Following the work of Cara New Daggett, this seminar postulates that techniques are inseparable from narrative frameworks that justify them and inscribe them in particular histories and power relations (Daggett 2023). In this sense, the energy transition relies as much on techniques and objects as on narratives, which open or close the field of possibilities, shape imaginations and activate affects. We propose to consider these narratives as myths, which we will identify and describe.
In Q1, the seminar proposes a program of readings and meetings around these questions. In Q2, it extends this dynamic by providing collective support for individual work on writing a thematic chapter. The focus will be on the ways in which knowledge is circulated.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The seminar will enable students to :
- become aware of contemporary critical issues, in this case the question of the energy transition ;
- become familiar with a diversity of paradigms and critical gestures;
- try their hand at formatting choices that support the circulation of knowledge on these issues.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Have a good grounding in the Philosophy and Letters subjects.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Collegiate seminar, organised in the form of thematic sessions equivalent to approximately 3 h/month (schedule to be comunicated on the first-meeting date, on Wednesday 24th 2025, 12AM, classroom A2/4/15).
Every session will be led by one or more members of the teaching team and/or an external guest and/or students themselves.
In Q1, a first study day (date to be agreed) will be devoted to the issue of field research, between natural sciences and human sciences. The day will be organised in two parts:
- discussion of the book Notre nouvelle nature. Guide de terrain de l'Anthropocène (see bibliography);
- field trip, in the form of a walk with commentary by a biologist.
In Q2, a second study day (12/3/2026) will be devoted to the work of Fanny Lopez and Sébastien Urbanski, who will present their research projects on energy transition issues.
In Q2, the seminar will also take the form of monitoring students' work.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Face-to-face.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
Further information:
As part of the seminar on the mythologies of the energy transition, students are invited to read the following works:
- Daggett (Cara N.), Pétromasculinité. Du mythe fossile patriarcal aux systèmes énergétiques féministes, Marseille, WildProject, 2023.
-Bosqué (Camille), Design pour un monde fini, Paris, Premier parallèle, 2024.
-Magalhães (Nelo), Accumuler du béton, tracer des routes. Une histoire environnementale des grandes infrastructures, Paris, La Fabrique, 2024.
- Tsing (Anna L.) et al., Notre nouvelle nature. Guide de terrain de l'Anthropocène, Paris, Seuil, 2025.
In addition, we refer you to two bibliographies, which offer suggestions for further reading: https://dox.uliege.be/index.php/s/S8iCuXFsM0OuE3j
One can serve as a general introduction to the theorisation and practice of critical knowledge from the 19th century to the present day.
The other offers a selection of works that we believe are useful for familiarising oneself with research methods in philosophy, literature and the humanities.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Additional information:
Students will be assessed on the basis of a personal assignment.
This will consist of writing a thematic chapter based on Camille Bosqué's book (see reference above).
This work will be physically handed in to the seminar leaders on the first day of the May-June examination session, and will be discussed.
The evaluation criteria will be as follows:
- relevance and originality of the problematic ;
- relevance of bibliographical choices ;
- ability to develop a narrative from heterogeneous materials;
- formal completion of the work;
- ability to provide an oral commentary on the work.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The seminar will be in the form of a 3 h session every month (approximately). Attendance is required. Everyone should have read the preparatory texts prior to each session.
Students will meet on Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 12PM (classroom A2/4/15) for an introductory meeting, where they will be given all the information concerning the seminar's organisation.
Contacts
Julien Pieron
Julien.Pieron@uliege.be
François Provenzano
Francois.Provenzano@uliege.be
Arnaud Massin
Arnaud.Massin@uliege.be
Florian Zanatta
Florian.Zanatta@gmail.com