This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)
Module FOUN0227: CULTURAL STUDIES
Department: Foundation Year
FOUN0227: CULTURAL STUDIES
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 0 | 10 | Available in 2012/2013 | None. | Durham and Queen's Campus Stockton |
Pre-requisites
- None.
Corequisites
- None.
Excluded Combinations
- None.
Aims
- To introduce students to the discipline of cultural studies.
- to promote confidence and develop analytical skills.
- to develop students' learning skills.
Content
- Introducing cultural studies.
- founding fathers: Matthew Arnold, F. R. Leavis, Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams.
- ways of seeing: John Berger and Roland Barthes.
- examining contemporary media: television, movie genres, the emergence of popular magazines.
- cultural studies of popular music: from jazz to acid jazz, from Marilyn to Madonna.
- Pulp Fiction and youth culture: Peter Cave on Hell's Angels, Richard Allen on Skinheads.
- the importance of popular culture.
- background to the 'making' of the UK.
- a profile of the UK today.
- how Britain is governed.
- everyday needs in the UK.
- symbols of 'Britishness'.
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- By the end of the module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
- appreciate the significance of popular culture to wider questions about society and culture.
- recognise vital signs of how we construct our culture and how that culture constructs us.
- demonstrate an awareness of the history and theoretical approaches of cultural studies.
Subject-specific Skills
- By the end of the module students will have acquired the skills to be able to:
- ask critical questions about the interaction between texts, readers and producers.
Key Skills
- By the end of the module students will:
- be able to communicate effectively in writing
- be able to communicate effectively orally
- be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Theory, initial concepts and research techniques will be introduced during lectures and demonstrations.
- Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structured exercises, group work, discussions and library assignments during tutorials and students' own time.
- Knowledge and understanding of concepts will be assessed by a variety of assignments including poster presentation, oral presentation and a written assignment.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 10 | Weekly | 1 hour | 10 | Yes |
| Seminars | 10 | Weekly | 2 hours | 20 | Yes |
| Preparation and Reading | 70 | ||||
| Total | 100 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay involving library research | 50% | Essay involving library research | 100% | Resubmission | |
| Poster | 25% | Poster | 100% | Resubmission | |
| Presentation | 25% | Presentation | 100% | Resubmission |
Formative Assessment
Throughout the course exercises and library research will be undertaken. Comments are fed back to individuals and the group.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.