Defining Cultures

Description

This subject explores the debates about culture that underpins the development of the cultural and creative industries, beginning with a study of the meanings of the term 'culture'. It introduces students to the different ways that cultural analysis has been undertaken since the 19th century. It also considers the relationship between culture and power, the notion of the sub-culture, culture and the body, culture and the media, providing students with the cultural literacy with which to explore emergent cultural and creative industries.

Subject objectives

a. explain the major theories and concepts used to identify culture(s) and its/their specific social and political practices and formations

b. analyse the cultural implications of specific individual and social behaviours and practices using the theories and concepts discussed in the subject

c. explain the contemporary expansion of the cultural and creative sectors, including its political, social and economic contexts

d. evaluate the stated aims and objectives of a cultural or creative industry

e. reflect on their own practice using theories discussed in the subject

Teaching and learning strategies

Face-to-face classes will incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including short presentations, videos, simulations, discussion of readings and case studies and student groupwork. These will be complemented by independent student reading and participation in online discussion.

Content

The subject explores the debates about culture that contextualize the development of the cultural and creative industries. By using the theories and concepts that inform these debates to explore examples of contemporary cultural and creative industries (e.g. museums and galleries, city festivals, street events, online marketing), students develop an in-depth understanding of these industries in their social, political and economic contexts. Topics are likely to include the diverse meanings of culture, the consumer and the audience, the embodied subject, globalisation, connectivity, cultures and subcultures, culture and power, culture and creativity, culture and the body, culture and memory, culture and community.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Seminar Paper

Objective(s):

a and b

Type: Presentation

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 20%

Length:

Oral presentation should be 10 minutes; Written paper should be 1000 words.

Criteria:

? Coherence of structure

? Sophistication of explanation and argument

? Integration of literature

? Clarity of expression

Assessment task 2: Essay

Objective(s):

a, b, c and d

Type: Essay

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 30%

Length:

1,500 words

Criteria:

? Accuracy of evaluation

? Rigour of research practice

? Integration of literature

? Clarity of expression

? Professionalism of project presentation

Assessment task 3: Report

Objective(s):

a, b, c, d and e

Type: Report

Groupwork: Individual

Weight: 50%

Length:

2,500 words

Criteria:

? Accuracy of evaluation

? Insight into relevance of practice

? Sophistication of research formulation and design

? Rigour of research practice

? Integration of literature

? Engagement with the literature

? Clarity of expression

? Professionalism of project presentation