Approval

The course was established 2007-11-14. This syllabus was approved 2007-11-14 by the Education Commiteé at school of Education. The syllabus is valid from 2008-01-18.

Purpose

The purpose of this course is for students to develop critical approaches to popular texts by learning about and using theories and methods from the broad, interdisciplinary area of cultural studies. The aim is furthermore that students gain an understanding of how different popular texts can be analysed and used in pedagogical contexts.

Stage

Single subject course.

Entry requirements

General eligibility and the equivalence of English course B.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course the students will be able to

• discuss and explain the emergence and development of cultural studies as an interdisciplinary research area
• critically assess and analyze different texts in terms of how meaning, ideology, identities, and power structures are (re)produced and represented in media productions
• use adequate methods and theories to analyze representations of ethnicity, class, race, gender and body, place, and age in popular texts
• analyze and explain the role of media literacy and the wider text definition in education and society, and be able to use media literacy in communicative competence and creative production
• demonstrate knowledge of IT and research techniques, and apply this competence in oral and written presentations as well as in the creation of media productions
• in collaboration with another student, plan, structure, and complete a research project based on theories and methods studied in the course.

Assessments

Assessment is based on one in-class written examination and one creative research project carried out in pairs. The research project involves two parts: 1) an essay where students analyse a chosen popular text by applying theories studied in the course 2) an oral presentation demonstrating how to use the popular text pedagogically and from cultural studies perspectives.
The following grades are awarded: Pass-Pass with distinction-Fail. Apart from being graded according to the Swedish grading system, students are graded according to the ECTS grading system. The following grading scale is used:
A: Excellent – outstanding performance; excellent work and understanding
B: Very good – above the average standard and overall outstanding work and understanding
C: Good – generally good work and sound understanding
D: Satisfactory – fair but with significant shortcomings
E: Sufficient – performance and understanding meet the minimum criteria
F: Fail – some more work required; understanding too limited.

Course content

This is a course in media literacy and cultural studies. The focus is on cultural theory and representations of ethnicity, race, class, age, gender and sexuality in popular texts. An important aspect of the course is therefore the use of a wide variety of texts such as film, TV shows, music, ads, computer games, and newspaper articles. We will explore meaning production in relation to issues of democracy, ideology, hegemony, consumption, power and resistance. The aim is to develop students’ ability to analyse texts and critically discuss processes of meaning production in popular culture locally as well as in a global context.

Learning activities

The course consists of lectures, seminars, study groups and student-led seminars. Essential for this course is the use of a wide variety of media texts, such as film, music, TV shows, advertisements, etc. Part of the course setup involves interaction with parallel courses focusing on cultural and media issues. The course will also emphasize and make use of the international composition of the student body.

Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
ECTS grading system can be used on students demand.

Reading list

Entire course
Gauntlett, David. Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction. Routledge, 2002. (256 s) I urval, ca 100 s
Gillespie, Marie & Jason Toynbee (eds.). Analysing Media Texts. The Open University Press, 2006. (191 s)
Storey, John. Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. Pearson, 2001. (194 s)

Abdel-Fattah, Randa. Does My Head Look Big in This? Orchard Books, 2007 (368 s)
Dhaliwal, Nirpal Singh. Tourism. Vintage Books, 2006 (256 s)
Kincaid, Jamaica. A Small Place. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st Farrar edition, 2000 (96 s)
Trask, Haunani-Kay. Night is a Sharkskin Drum. University of Hawai’i Press, 2002. (96 s) I urval, ca 40 s

Cantet, Laurent, Mot Södern (2005)
Coppola, Sofia, Lost in Translation (2003)
Meadows, Shane, This is England (2007)

Additional articles and material from the Internet 150 pages.

Course evaluation

Evaluation is an integral part of the course. A final written evaluation based on the course aims and objectives is done at the end of the course. This evaluation is used as a starting point for a concluding oral course evaluation which must include measures that need to be taken to develop the course. The result of the evaluation is summarised and made available in a report to be used as a basis for future courses.