Module Code - Title:

CU4116 - CULTURAL STUDIES 4: CULTURAL THEORY

Year Last Offered:

2022/3

Hours Per Week:

Lecture

2

Lab

0

Tutorial

1

Other

0

Private

7

Credits

6

Grading Type:

N

Prerequisite Modules:

Rationale and Purpose of the Module:

To give students the opportunity to study, in depth, the writings of key cultural theorists of the 20th century. To develop an awareness of the place in theory in cultural practice. To develop skills of presentation, appraisal and comparison of material of high theoretical complexity.

Syllabus:

This module will cover a number of different theorists and theoretical positions in sequence. The relevant theorists will include Matthew Arnold, Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, Laura Mulvey, Karl Marx, Theodor Adorno, Roland Barthes and Jean Baudrillard. The theoretical positions covered will include humanism, psychoanalysis, feminism, Marxism, neo-Marxism, structuralism, poststructuralism, semiotics and postmodernism.

Learning Outcomes:

Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)

On completion of this module, students should be able to: * Discuss a variety of theorists and theoretical positions in significant depth * Critique different models of culture and cultural production * Apply models of culture to relevant cultural artefacts, especially those from from popular culture * Adjudicate between competing models of culture * Delineate how racial, gender and class categories shape knowledge * Produce written and oral work at an appropriate academic level

Affective (Attitudes and Values)

On completion of this module, students should be affectively disposed to: * Interrogate critically the everyday cultural reality that they inhabit

Psychomotor (Physical Skills)

N/A

How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:

The module consists of two lectures and one tutorial per week. Students will be engaged in active learning both inside and outside the classroom and will be encouraged to carry out self-directed work (e.g. essays and oral presentations) related to the material covered on this module.

Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):

N/A

Prime Texts:

Storey, John (ed) (2006) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. A Reader , Sage

Other Relevant Texts:

Easthope, Anthony and Kate MacGowan (eds (2004) A Critical and Cultural , Open University

Barker, Chris (2003) Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice , Sage

Milner, Andrew and Jeff Browitt (2001) Contemporary Cultural Theory. An , Routledge

Ryan, Michael ed. (2008) Cultural Studies: An Anthology , Blackwell

Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:

Semester - Year to be First Offered:

Spring - 08/09

Module Leader:

Deirdre.Dunlevy@ul.ie