Cultural Studies: New Practices and Widening Horizons

The Cultural Studies: New Practices and Widening Horizons module is available as an Open Option in MA programmes that allow them.

This module builds on the insights gained in Cultural Studies: Origins, Development, Methodologies, by focusing explicitly on the ongoing development of Cultural Studies as a field in specifically non-Western contexts. It investigates the evolution of the field's critical mission and its originary focus on the cultural distribution of power, and the ethical, moral and political questions raised by that focus.

It does so by offering a series of key case studies drawing on cutting-edge work in, from and on the cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as their diasporas around the world, and invites students to work and learn collaboratively and experientially, putting their analytical insights to use in novel and ground-breaking ways.

Prerequisites

Completion of Cultural Studies: Origins, Development, Methodologies.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the evolution of Cultural Studies in and on contemporary Africa, Asia and the Middle East and diasporas
• analyse cultural products from a variety of cultures, societies and regions in nuanced and insightful ways
• collaborate with others to produce novel research on recent and contemporary forms of cultural production in a variety of contexts
• demonstrate a reflective awareness of their personal growth, evolution, and contribution to collaborative learning outcomes

Workload

This module will be taught over 10 weeks with 2 hours of classroom contact per week consisting of a 1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar.

Scope and syllabus

Recent and contemporary trends in Cultural Studies in and on Africa, Asia and the Middle East; diasporic cultural production; collaborative and comparative approaches to studying cultures.

Method of assessment

• 20% - Reaction paper 1 (800 words)
• 30% - Reflective journal or video diary (2000 words)
• 50% - Group presentation (30 minutes)
• The exact assessment deadline dates are published on the relevant module Moodle/BLE page

Suggested reading

A full reading list will be made available at the start of the module.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.