CULT06005 2022 Applied Cultural Studies in Literature, Drama and Contemporary Culture
Full Title
Applied Cultural Studies in Literature, Drama and Contemporary Culture
Transcript Title
Applied Cultural Studies
Code
CULT06005
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
CULT - Cultural Studies
Department
SOCS - Social Sciences
Level
06 - Level 6
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2022 - Full Academic Year 2022-23
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Suzanne Collery, Dr. Garret Scally, Bernie Meehan
Programme Membership
SG_HENGL_H08 202200 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and Psychology
Description
This course is an introduction to Cultural Studies. It explores concepts and practices within the field of Cultural Studies and applies them to contemporary culture such as film, TV shows, performance, media and written texts. The course begins with two introductory workshops to explore the concepts of Cultural Studies. Students will explore understandings of power relations and their social, political and cultural impact through examples of cultural identity such as class, race, and gender and how they are articulated in performances and representations in contemporary culture, as well as ideas of experience, sensibility, and aestheticism.
Cultural Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that emerged in post-war UK with its early figures trained in English literary studies. It has subsequently drawn on a wide range of theories and methodologies that are applied to everyday lived cultures, habits, rituals, TV shows, comedy, literature, media, music, fashion, youth and popular culture. Students will be introduced to some of the main concepts, theories and practices within the broad field of Cultural Studies such as Stuart Hall's "articulation" and "representation", performance and performativity, Post-modernism, Post-colonialism, Feminism, Historicisms and Materialisms, and Eco-criticism. Students will critically apply these theories to case studies from diverse areas such as TV dramas, soap operas, film, literature, comedy and social media.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
1.
Describe key concepts from within the field of Cultural Studies
2.
Apply Cultural Studies concepts and schools of thought to case studies.
3.
Demonstrate an awareness of cultural sensibilities and contemporary discourses in Cultural Studies
4.
Communicate and articulate Cultural Studies ideas and concepts clearly and fluently.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
The teaching and learning strategies in this module aim to foster a student-centred approach. The module delivery strategies will include lectures, seminars, discussions, presentations, group work, research and workshops.
Module Assessment Strategies
1. Presentation – 50%
2. Critical Reflection – 50%
Students will demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the cultural studies theories and approaches introduced in this module by critically analysing literary and cultural texts in a combination of formats, such as formal academic essays, portfolios (or reflective diaries), and creative presentations.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used for documentation and referencing in all formal academic submissions.
Repeat Assessments
Repeat requirements will be determined based on failed components.
Indicative Syllabus
Describe key concepts from within the field of Cultural Studies
The course explores themes such as class and power, race and ethnicity, diaspora and neo-colonialism, gender and sexuality, family, age, ability/disability with use of diverse critical texts including Stuart Hall, bell hooks, Angela Davis, Akala, Angela McRobbie, Paul Gilroy, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Lauren Berlant, Sara Ahmed, Judith Butler, Lawrence Grossberg and Raymond Williams. Students demonstrate their grasp of these authors and notions via in-class discussion and short, small group talks.
Apply Cultural Studies concepts and schools of thought to case studies
During the course students examine and analyse cultural artefacts and the role they play in society in oral and written formats. These artefacts are selected, for instance, from ‘high’ art and literature to ‘outsider’ and folk art, music and storytelling and the cultural practices and rituals of everyday life associated with ordinary people, who do not necessarily appear in official histories. These cultural practices include: events – music festivals and gigs, exhibitions, comedy shows, sports events and carnival; film, tv and media from large scale Hollywood and Bollywood productions to soap operas and online series to video games and social media productions; comics and graphic novels; popular magazines, newspapers and digital media; public spaces such as the pub, libraries, and other institutions and private spaces.
Demonstrate an awareness of cultural sensibilities and contemporary discourses in Cultural Studies
An awareness of cultural sensibilities and contemporary discourses in Cultural Studies will be demonstrated in discussions based on topics drawn from popular culture, along with traditional instances of literature and other texts.
Communicate and articulate Cultural Studies clearly and fluently ideas and concepts
A full iteration of students’ developed understanding of the ideas and concepts of Cultural Studies is assessed through small group presentations and a long-form written assignment.
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework & Continuous Assessment
100 %
Coursework Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presentation | Coursework Assessment | Group Project | 50 % | Week 10 | 1,2,3,4 |
| 2 | Critical Reflection | Coursework Assessment | Assignment | 50 % | Week 11 | 1,2,3,4 |
Full Time Mode Workload
| Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | Lecture Theatre | Weekly themed lecture | 2 | Weekly | 2.00 |
| Workshop / Seminar | Flat Classroom | Lecture Theme | 1 | Weekly | 1.00 |
| Independent Learning | Not Specified | Independent Learning | 3 | Weekly | 3.00 |
Total Full Time Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 3.00 Hours
Required & Recommended Book List
Required Reading
2021 Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction The University of Georgia Press, USA
2021 Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction The University of Georgia Press, USA
Recommended Reading
Silent Spring Penguin Modern Classics
Silent Spring Penguin Modern Classics
Required Reading
1996 Stuart Hall Psychology Press
ISBN 0415088046 ISBN-13 9780415088046
1996 Stuart Hall Psychology Press
ISBN 0415088046 ISBN-13 9780415088046
A collection of writings by and about Stuart Hall.
Required Reading
2008 Key Concepts in Cultural Studies Palgrave Macmillan, London
2008 Key Concepts in Cultural Studies Palgrave Macmillan, London
Required Reading
2011 Post-Colonial Ecologies: Literature of the Environment New York, Oxford University Press
2011 Post-Colonial Ecologies: Literature of the Environment New York, Oxford University Press
Required Reading
2021-04-07 How to Do Media and Cultural Studies SAGE
ISBN 9781526452573 ISBN-13 152645257X
2021-04-07 How to Do Media and Cultural Studies SAGE
ISBN 9781526452573 ISBN-13 152645257X
The third edition of the bestselling student guide to doing media and cultural studies research provides all the knowledge and practical expertise needed to carry out a project or dissertation.
Required Reading
2015-03-14 Introducing Cultural Studies Icon Books Ltd
ISBN 9781848319660 ISBN-13 1848319665
2015-03-14 Introducing Cultural Studies Icon Books Ltd
ISBN 9781848319660 ISBN-13 1848319665
Cultural Studies signals a major academic revolution for the 21st century. But what exactly is it, and how is it applied? It is a discipline that claims not to be a discipline; it is a radical critical approach for understanding racial, national, social and gender identities. "Introducing Cultural Studies" provides an incisive tour through the minefield of this complex subject, charting its origins in Britain and its migration to the USA, Canada, France, Australia and South Asia, examining the ideas of its leading exponents and providing a flavour of its use around the world. Covering the ground from Gramsci to Raymond Williams, postcolonial discourse to the politics of diaspora, feminism to queer theory, technoculture and the media to globalization, it serves as an insightful guide to the essential concepts of this fascinating area of study. It is essential reading for all those concerned with the quickening pulse of old, new and emerging cultures.
Module Resources
Non ISBN Literary Resources
Journal Resources
URL Resources
Other Resources
Additional Information
As a 5 credit module, the total student independent effort hours for this module are 3 hours per week. As a 10 credit module, the total student independent effort hours for this module are 5 hours per week.