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Department of the Languages and Cultures of Africa

Black urban studies

Course Code:
151230001
Unit value:
0.5
Year of study:
Year 2 or Year 3
Taught in:
Term 1
The course introduces students to the tools of cultural criticism and theory, with particular emphasis on black culture, urban environment, and black people's relationships to a variety of social and cultural institutions and practices. The latter may include the mass media, class and poverty, the police, urban development, education, music, art and sports.

This course is taught and administered by the New York University of London.  Students should contact them directly for further information.  Their contact details are:

NYU in London
6 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3RA
020 79073200

Full details of this course is available on the following web address:  www.nyu.edu/global/london

Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this course, however, students from the programmes of study listed will be given preference on NYUL courses.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

By the end of the programme, students should have gained knowledge and understanding of:

  • significant intellectual and historical contexts that inform contemporary Black British culture ands its relationship to the urban space;
  • selected critical and theoretical debates about the characteristics of literary and socio-cultural innovation in writing and representation;
  • factors which facilitate or impede cultural citizenship and their connection to a sense of belonging.

Written coursework should demonstrate ability in and evidence of:

  • writing lucidly and with focused relevance;
  • identifying and examining key issues in relation to the work in hand;
  • drawing upon and evaluating primary and secondary sources as appropriate;
  • sustaining a critical response through the development of coherent analysis;
  • presenting written criticism that displays insight, intelligence and stylistic aptitude;
  • structuring and sustaining a coherent argument at an appropriate level.

Workload

See course description from NYUL

Method of assessment

See course description from NYUL

Suggested reading

A reading list will be given to students at the beginning of the course.