Popular Culture: Introduction 03-AP-PCI
Course learning content:
- definition of popular culture,
- state of research on popular culture (criticism and affirmation),
- mass communication and the information revolution; features of cyberculture; media poetics,
- aesthetic and axiological problems of popular culture; postmodern aesthetics; the phenomenon of kitsch,
- consumerism (globalisation, macdonaldisation, infantilisation),
- identity changes and transformations in the approach to carnality,
- ludological aspects of popular culture,
- visual aspects of culture,
- popular literature - definition, evolution, genres,
- the reception of history in popular culture,
- fan culture.
Module learning aims
Methods of teaching for learning outcomes achievement
Student workload (ECTS credits)
Module type
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- knows and understands main research areas of media studies and popular culture,
- knows and understands the theoretical concepts of the most important research schools in cultural and literary studies (mainly popular),
- knows and understands the basic methods of analysis and interpretation of various cultural creations typical for the cultures of Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula,
- knows and understands the basics of the functioning of cultural institutions of Central European and Balkan Peninsula countries,
- find, analyse, evaluate, select and use information concerning literary communication, social and political life of countries of Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula, using theoretical and material sources,
- analyse problems concerning literary and cultural studies related to Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula,
- make arguments and formulate conclusions concerning language, literature, popular culture,
- is ready to participate in cultural life using a variety of media and forms,
- is willing to behave in a professional manner and to reflect on ethical issues.
Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria:
very good (bdb; 5,0): mastering the knowledge and skills in individual areas to a very high degree.
good plus (+db; 4,5): good command of knowledge and skills in individual areas, a few substantive errors, competence level requiring correction.
good (db; 4,0): good command of knowledge and skills in individual areas, some substantive errors, competence level at a satisfactory level.
satisfactory plus (+dst; 3,5): satisfactory mastery of knowledge and skills in individual areas, a number of substantive errors, competence level requiring significant correction.
satisfactory (dst; 3,0): satisfactory command of knowledge and skills in individual areas, a fairly large number of substantive errors, level of competence requiring significant correction.
unsatisfactory (ndst; 2,0): unsatisfactory level of mastering knowledge and skills in individual areas, a large number of factual errors, level of competence indicating that the course material was not assimilated.
Skills assessment:
a) student knows and understands main research areas of media studies and popular culture; knows and understands the theoretical concepts of the most important research schools in cultural and literary studies (mainly popular); knows and understands the basic methods of analysis and interpretation of various cultural creations typical for the cultures of Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula; knows and understands the basics of the functioning of cultural institutions of Central European and Balkan Peninsula countries; is able to find, analyse, evaluate, select and use information concerning literary communication, social and political life of countries of Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula, using theoretical and material sources,
b) is able to analyse problems concerning literary and cultural studies related to Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula; is able to make arguments and formulate conclusions concerning language, literature, popular culture; is ready to participate in cultural life using a variety of media and forms; is willing to behave in a professional manner and to reflect on ethical issues.
Bibliography
Reading list: reading list will be given by lecturers:
Adorno, Theodor & Horkheimer, Max. “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception”.
Althusser, Louis. “Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses”.
Barthes, Roland. “Myth Today.” in: Mythologies.
Baudrillard, Jean. “The Precession of Simulacra”.
Benjamin, Walter. “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction”.
Bourdieu, Pierre. Pierre Bourdieu, “Distinction,” and “The Aristocracy of Culture”.
De Certeau, Michel. “Introduction.” The Practice of Everyday Life.
Fiske, John. “The Popular Economy.” Television Culture.
Fiske, John. Understanding Popular Culture.
Hall, Stuart. “Notes on Deconstructing ‘The Popular'.
Hebdige, Dick. Subculture: the Meaning of Style.
Jameson, Fredric. “Postmodernism, or the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism”.
Storey, John. “Cultural Theory and Popular Culture An Introduction”.
Strinati, “Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture”.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: