Universität Wien

120116 SE Advanced Cultural Studies SE (Modul) = Cultural/Media Studies SE (MA) = SE Kulturwiss./BA-Arbeit (2010S)

Ways of Thinking - Approaches to Cultural Analysis: The British Way

11.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 11.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 18.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 25.03. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 15.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 22.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 29.04. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 06.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 20.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 27.05. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 10.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 17.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07
  • Thursday 24.06. 15:00 - 17:00 Besprechungsraum Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O2-07

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Cultural Analysis makes use of a plurality of approaches and methodologies which have been developed in the contexts of different disciplines and positions, ranging from philosophy to sociology, from Marxism to psychoanalysis, or from linguistics to literary theory. This diversity reflects the plurality of possible meanings that can be associated with the concept of “culture”. Cultural analysis draws on these different disciplines and positions either by adopting a conceptual framework derived from them - for instance theories of meaning from linguistics, or the concept of the dynamics of loss and desire from psychoanalysis – or by rejecting or displacing concepts essential to them, such as the concept of the unified subject or the concept of truth. On a general level we will take a look at some of the most influential approaches and methodologies that have been developed and proposed for the study of culture during the last 50 years which are known under key words such as structuralism, post-structuralism, feminist criticism or cultural materialism. In particular, we will read articles or sections from books by British critics representing these approaches, such as David Lodge adopting structuralism, John Dollimore cultural materialism or Catherine Belsey as a post-structuralist cum psychoanalyst among many others.

Assessment and permitted materials

regular attendance, regular set readings, participation in class discussions, paper presentation (seminar conference format on a Friday afternoon and Saturday, attendance obligatory), research paper of 20 (minimum) to 25 pages (maximum), final written essay

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

This class will provide you with a versatile theoretical toolkit to integrate the analysis of cultural artefacts into your study projects.

Examination topics

Small-group and all-class discussions of regular set readings, a paper presentation based on a recent cultural artefact of your choice viewed from two different approaches (seminar conference format on a Friday afternoon and Saturday, attendance obligatory, tentative date: May 28 and May 29)

Reading list

Introductory course texts: Peter Barry, Beginning Theory. An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, Manchester: Manchester University Press 2009 (3nd edition); John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. An Introduction, Harlow: Prentice Hall 2008 (5th edition); a course reader will be provided.

Association in the course directory

Diplom 343, UF 344, BA 612, MA 844
LI 12-0194, SPCode 426/428, 436/438, 821, 721-723 / BA14 / M06

Last modified: Th 09.01.2025 00:15