INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL STUDIES

Course Description

This course introduces students to the principle analytical techniques and interpretive strategies are used in the field of cultural studies. Designed for the students at beginning of their degrees in media and communications subjects, the course places particular emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to the study of culture and will provide a conceptual foundation for scholarly work in a variety of related areas. The course will address to the work of major figures related to Cultural Studies, including Michel Foucault, Stuart Hall and Edward Said, and will consider topics related to their work, such as the representational work of the media, the interpretative role of the audience, and the relationship between culture and power.

INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL STUDIES

Evaluation Tools (Active Term)

No evaluation items have been defined.

Course outcomes

1. 01 Define (2) cultural studies and explain (3) the interdisciplinary nature of field.
2. 02 Define (2) basic concepts of Cultural Studies such as, power, identity, ideology and representation.
3. 03 Assess (5) the constructed nature of identities, such as gender and nation.
4. 04 Define (2) the notion of stereotyping and identify (2) stereotypical representations in media and popular culture.

Course Syllabus

Reference Books & Course Materials

1. 01 Barker, C. (2012). Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. (4th edition). Sage: London.
2. 02 Sardar, Z. and B. Van Loon, (2013). Introducing Cultural Studies: A Graphic Guide, Icon: London.
3. 03 Storey, J. (2016). Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Routledge: London.
4. 04 Course notes on Moodle.

Learning Outcomes

1. L01 Explain (4) cultural studies and the study of popular culture as an interdisciplinary field of study. SOLO 4
2. L02 Identify (2) key terms and leading theorists of cultural studies and popular culture. SOLO 2
3. L03 Analyze a visual element of popular culture using some insights from semiotics. SOLO 4
4. L04 Describe (3) the relationship between popular culture and media. SOLO 3

Program Outcomes

1. P01 1. Having the ability to understand and discuss international relations discipline by using an interdisciplinary methodology to merge the knowledge coming from sociology, economics, psychology, political sciences well as diplomatic history.
2. P02 2. Having an adequate knowledge of the history and the epochs of international system and being able to identify historical evolution of the contemporary world politics.
3. P03 3. Recognizing local, regional and international actors functioning within the international system.
4. P04 4. Understanding the legal framework of the current international system
5. P05 5. Ability to identify the relations between the key actors of the international system – the states – from a theoretical as well as multi-dimensional scientific and academic methods.
6. P06 6. Ability to analyse the roles and positions of the non-state actors – international organizations in particular – within the current world system.
7. P07 7. Ability to recognize political, socio-economic and cultural structures embedded in international relations.
8. P08 8. Exploring the roots of conflicts among the actors and produce solutions at local, regional and international levels with an analytical focus.
9. P09 9. Being able to understand the politics and the functioning of political institutions in theory and practice.
10. P10 10. Understanding the historical emergence of various political cultures and gaining ability to assess them comparatively.
11. P11 11. Prepare international relations graduates; having a vast knowledge, academic formation and skills to work in public offices, civil society organizations, international institutions and companies at local and global levels.
12. P12 12. To have moral and ethical understanding in the field of work.

Po-Lo Matrix