Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Cultural Studies
Module Code	CM102
School	School of Communications
Online Module Resources
Module Teacher	Debbie Ging
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This module explores the key theoretical schools of thought in the study of culture. It encourages independent, critical analysis of cultural artifacts and practices, including students' own, taking into account the social, historical and political contexts in which they occur. The module compares and contrasts the diverse theoretical approaches to culture, facilitating a comprehensive overview of the main debates in this field.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the major schools of thought that have been applied to the study of culture in a socio-historical context
2. Compare, contrast and establish connections between these traditions
3. Apply diverse theoretical frameworks to critically analyse contemporary cultural artefacts and practices
4. Explain the concept of subculture and conduct a small ethnographic study of a subcultural group or practice
5. Evaluate and defend the validity of certain theoretical frameworks over others using the relevant literature and original examples

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	125	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

What is Culture?.
Cultural Studies: Mapping the Field.

Aesthetic Theories of Culture.
The 'Culture and Civilization' tradition.

Anthropological Approaches to Culture.
The Frankfurt School and the Culture Industries.

Subcultures.
Feminist Theories of Culture.

Cultural Identity, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism.
Postmodernism and Cultural Theory.

Guest lecture / project work.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Essay	n/a	60%	n/a
Group project	n/a	40%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Chris Barker: 2008, Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice, 3rd edition, Sage Publications Ltd.,
Gill Branston and Roy Stafford: 2010, The Media Student's Book, 5th edition, Routledge,
Andrew Millner and Geogg Browitt: 2002, Contemporary cultural theory: an introduction, 3rd edition, Routledge,
Dick Hebdige: 2005, The Meaning of Style, 2nd edition, Taylor and Francis,
David Muggleton: 2000, Inside subculture: the postmodern meaning of style, Berg Publishers,
Raiford Guins and Omayra Zaragoza Cruz: 2005, Popular culture: a reader, Sage,
Pierre Bourdieu: 1987, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, Harvard University Press,
Dominic Strinati: 2004, . An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture, 2nd edition, Routledge,
Imelda Whelehan: 2000, Overloaded: Popular Culture and the Future of Feminism, The Women's Press Ltd.,
Edward Said: 2003, Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient, 2nd edition, Penguin Classics,
Tracey Skelton and Gill Valentine: 1997, Cool Places: Geographies of Youth Cultures, Routledge,
Mike Featherstone: 2007, Consumer Culture and Postmodernism, 2nd edition, Sage,