Module Code - Title:
CU4121
-
INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA AND CULTURAL STUDIES
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
* To introduce students to the fields of cultural studies and new media and to the basic concepts underlying their study of these disciplines over the course of their programme.
* To give students the theoretical tools to analyse cultural processes and to investigate new media as cultural institutions, particularly in comparative contexts.
* To raise studentsÆ intercultural awareness as part of a process of preparing for the Erasmus/study abroad semester.
* To introduce students to the concept of career planning, particularly with the objective of preparing them for cooperative education as an integral part of their course.
Syllabus:
* The notion of culture: defining and describing the notion of culture and cultures; comparing different definitions and traditions of culture in a range of contexts; cultural anthropology; linguistic dimensions of culture; cultural policy and cultural imperialism; language and cultural awareness.
* Media and culture: identifying and describing cultural dimensions of media processes; the cultural specificity of media in different linguistic and cultural contexts; cultural dimensions of new media processes.
* Analysing cultural processes: theories and methodologies of cultural analysis.
* Career planning for students: skills awareness; career awareness; preparation for the off-campus year.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
* Identify the thematic areas that are of concern to cultural studies and new media.
* Apply a variety theoretical perspectives to cultural artefacts and media representation.
* Recognise the value of an analytical approach to culture and new media.
* Delineate how racial, gender and class categories shape knowledge.
* Identify why different cultures conceptualise the world differently.
* Produce written work at an appropriate academic level.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be affectively disposed to:
* Interrogate critically the everyday cultural reality that they inhabit.
* Attempt to identify career prospects, with the objective of preparing themselves for coopera
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module will be delivered in the form of two lectures and one tutorial per week. The latter will allow students to situate and discuss the lecture material in the context of their own experiences and learning. Also, an effort will be made to bring in guest lectures who can offer significant new perspectives on the material covered. For similar reasons, use will also be made of film resources that explore issues germane to the module content. Students will have the opportunity to engage in an approach to culture in a comparative context, and to commence a process of career planning which will enhance the professional dimension of the programmes in which the module is offered.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Storey, J (2003)
Cultural Studies and the Study of Popular Culture: Theories and Methods
, Edinburgh University Press
Durham, M. G. (2006)
Media and Cultural Studies (KeyWorks in Cultural Studies)
, Blackwell Publishing
Other Relevant Texts:
DuGay, P. et al. (1997)
Doing Cultural Studies: The Story of the Sony Walkman
, Sage
During, S., ed. (1993)
The Cultural Studies Reader
, Routledge
Grossberg, L., Nelson, C. and Treichler, P., eds. (1992)
Cultural Studies
, Routledge
Lewis, J. (2002)
Cultural Studies: The Basics
, Sage
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
Barrie.Wharton@ul.ie