INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL STUDIES
- Course
- COMM144 - INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL STUDIES
- Department
- Journalism - English - Undergraduate
- Course Type
- Course
- Status
- Required
- Language
- English
- Credit
- 3
- ECTS
- 4
- T+P+L
- 3 + 0 + 0
- Course Coordinator(s)
- -
- Prerequisite
- -
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
- 01 Define (2) cultural studies and explain (3) the interdisciplinary nature of field.
- 02 Define (2) basic concepts of Cultural Studies such as, power, identity, ideology and representation.
- 03 Assess (5) the constructed nature of identities, such as gender and nation.
- 04 Define (2) the notion of stereotyping and identify (2) stereotypical representations in media and popular culture.
Course Syllabus
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction/ Introduction to Cultural studies |
| Week 2 | Cultural Studies as an Interdisciplinary Field |
| Week 3 | Basic concepts in Cultural studies / Culture |
| Week 4 | Introduction to semiology/ Saussure and the notion of sign |
| Week 5 | Semiology cont'd/ Pierce's Index, Icon and Symbol |
| Week 6 | Semiology cont'd / Barthes' Denotation and Connotation |
| Week 7 | Structuralism |
| Week 8 | Midterm exam week |
| Week 9 | Representation / Stereotyping |
| Week 10 | Representation / Stereotyping cont'd |
| Week 11 | Understanding Identity |
| Week 12 | Gender and representation of men and women in media |
| Week 13 | Ethnicity, race and nation |
| Week 14 | Ethnicity, race and nation cont'd |
| Week 15 | Final exam week |
Reference Books & Course Materials
- 01 Barker, C. (2012). Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. (4th edition). Sage: London.
- 02 Sardar, Z. and B. Van Loon, (2013). Introducing Cultural Studies: A Graphic Guide, Icon: London.
- 03 Storey, J. (2016). Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. Routledge: London.
- 04 Course notes on Moodle.
Learning Outcomes
- L01 Explain (4) cultural studies and the study of popular culture as an interdisciplinary field of study. SOLO 4
- L02 Identify (2) key terms and leading theorists of cultural studies and popular culture. SOLO 2
- L03 Analyze a visual element of popular culture using some insights from semiotics. SOLO 4
- L04 Describe (3) the relationship between popular culture and media. SOLO 3
Program Outcomes
No program outcomes have been defined.
Po-Lo Matrix
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