75598 - Pop Culture Theory

Learning outcomes

This module aims to enable students exploration of popular culture as an historical, critical and theoretical object of study. The module aims to develop skills in the semiotic analysis of popular culture texts, mainly related to youth musical cultures and fashion. By the end of the module, students will have a good sense of popular culture criticism and they should be able to offer clear and precise critical accounts of texts and theories studied, both orally and in writing.

On successfully completing the module all students will be able to:

•         Identify and describe the key popular culture theories

•         Evaluate, analyse and interpret cultural texts.

•         Present a summary of information in textual and spoken form

Course contents

Students are introduced to the relationship between theory and criticism as it applies to cultural studies, semiotics, popular culture.  The introductory section will include a brief overview of some classics readings, which will allow the definition of the theoretical and analytical framework.

The module will be focusing mainly on the issues of pop, popular, culture, media, semiotics and text. What is pop and what is not? When and where does pop culture started? What's the difference between pop and pop art? Is there a real pop theory? Are we living in a whole popular culture?

Readings/Bibliography

Essential readings

 

BOOKS

Storey, John, 2012, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture. An Introduction. 6th Edition, London, Routledge. (Chapters 1,6,9-10)

Hebdige, Dick, 1979 (1991), Subculture: the meaning of style. London-New York, Routledge (Chapters 4-5, 7-8).

 

ARTICLES

Lawrence Tim, 2006, “In defense of disco (again)", New Formations, pp. 128-146.

Spaziante Lucio, “Pop Culture and the Construction of Imaginary” in F. Fabbri, F. Muzzarelli (a cura), Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Elio Fiorucci: Arte e moda dalla Pop al Neopop, Cinisello Balsamo, Silvana Editoriale, pp. 210-219, 2011.

Spaziante Lucio, 2011, “From Goth to Robots: Music Imageries between Fiction and Reality", Lexia, 7-8, pp. 279-292.

Wilson Elizabeth, 1999, “The bohemianization of mass culture", International Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 2 no. 1, pp. 11-32.

 

Teaching methods

The module will be taught using a combination of lectures and self-directed work. Lectures for the module will take place weekly and will provide general information about the principles that guide the practice of semiotic research.

Attendance at lectures, participation in discussion and occasionally making formal presentations are strongly encouraged, and they are central to the ‘intended learning outcomes' of this module.

Traditional academic skills such as analysis, essay writing, independent research, discussion and debate are vital components of the programme.

Assessment methods

The module will be assessed through a combination of an unseen written exam (multiple-choice+ extended questions) and a final essay.

The examination is worth 50 per cent of the module mark and the essay makes up the remaining 50 per cent.

The essay is conceived as an original survey of 15/20.000 characters based upon the module issues, to be agreed in advance with the teacher, and it must be submitted by mail almost a week in advance of the deadline.

Teaching tools

The module is composed of lectures with analysis, examples, listening and viewing of textual analysis and audiovisuals.

Office hours

See the website of Lucio Spaziante