This module introduces students to some of the main theories of media and everyday culture. Its aim is to familiarise students with key ideas that have shaped Cultural and Media Studies, and to show ways of using this theory in the analysis of cultural forms and practices. We will introduce how 'theory' is a useful resource for helping us think about media and culture. We will look at 19th and 20th Century approaches to culture including those of Matthew Arnold and the Leavises, The Frankfurt School, Habermas, Gramsci, Althusser, Stuart Hall.

P. Barry (1995) - Beginning Theory, MUP
A. Adgar & P. Sedgwick (1999) - Key Concepts in Cultural Theory, Routledge
J. Gripsrud (1999) Understanding Media Culture, Arnold
D. Strinati (1995) An Introduction to Theories of Popular Culture, Routledge
J. Hartley, (2002) Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts, Routledge

Library resources
Audio visual aids
Internet access

Weekly tutor-lead workshops: combining lecture/seminar/screenings/group discussion and set-tasks
You will be presented with a range of diverse and interconnecting theoretical models, ideas and concepts, which week by week will be contextualised in terms of a range media and cultural contexts, products and practices. You will look at arrange of programmes, films, texts and objects to critically engage with. Questions will be asked and group discussions and feedback sessions will take place to share and discuss ideas, readings and understandings.

A COURSEWORK ESSAY [ LO 1,2,3,4]
1 SHORT ANSWER CLASS TEST - EQUIVALENT TO 1000 WORDS [LO 1,3,5]