SO434
Cultural Theory and Cultural Forms
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Donald Slater STC S310
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Culture and Society. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
Cultural Theory and Cultural Forms is the core course for the MSc Culture and Society. The aim is to introduce you to a wide range of approaches, debates and issues that loom large in the study of cultural processes. By the end of this course you should have a reasonable map of different aspects and approaches to researching cultural processes; and you should feel able to formulate your own research questions and strategies within the diverse traditions of culture theory and cultural research.
In Term 1 we introduce the diverse approaches to cultural theory and the central debates that have structured the field, with particular attention to the ways in which these link to central sociological themes. The second focuses on approaching these theoretical debates from the vantage of empirical research and a concern with methodologies for studying cultural processes.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of lectures, online materials and seminars totalling a minimum of 40 hours across MT and LT.
Reading Weeks: Students on this course will have a reading week in MT Week 6 and LT Week 6, in line with departmental policy.
Formative coursework
All students are expected to submit one piece of non-assessed written work per term and prepare seminar presentations.
Indicative reading
Ahmed, S. 2004. "Affective economies", Social text, 22: 117-139.
Bourdieu, P. 1984. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste. London: Routledge.
Hall, S. (1992) `New Ethnicities' in Donald, J and Rattansi, A (eds.) (1992) “Race”, Culture, Difference, London: Routledge.
Latour, B. (2004) Why Has Critique Run out of Steam?: From Matters of Fact to Matters of Concern. Critical Inquiry 30 (Winter 2004), 225–248.
McGuigan, J. (2010) Cultural Analysis. London: Sage.
McRobbie, A. (2005) The Uses of Cultural Studies. London: Sage.
Miller, D. (2008) The comfort of things. Polity, Cambridge.
Oswell, D. (2006) Culture and Society. London: Sage.
Assessment
Essay (50%, 5000 words) in the LT.
Essay (50%, 5000 words) in the ST.
An electronic copy of the assessed essay, to be uploaded to Moodle, no later than 4.00pm on the submission day.
The first essay is due by the second Thursday of Lent Term and the second essay is due by the second Thursday of Summer Term.
Attendance at all seminars and submission of all set coursework is required.
Student performance results
(2016/17 - 2018/19 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 8.3 |
| Merit | 61.9 |
| Pass | 23.8 |
| Fail | 6 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Sociology
Total students 2019/20: 21
Average class size 2019/20: 22
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: One Unit
