120158 PS Interdisciplinary Course (501) = Proseminar Cultural Studies (2009W)

This course gives you the chance to learn to apply the concepts of Cultural Studies to cultural material. In this particular case we will be choosing material with a predominantly although not exclusively British focus. We will look at a wide range of cultural material (e.g.literary texts, advertising, songs, TV shows, films, everyday objects) relating to various topics including food, dress (and undress), sport, the past, the land itself and many others. By applying the concepts of Cultural Studies we will explore how representation works and how it is interrelated with issues of identity, in particular ethnic, class, regional, gender and national identities. Although knowledge about Britain will necessarily flow into the course, it is not the focus. The focus lies on acquiring a skill, not knowledge.