Course syllabus

 

 

Well-being always comes first We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling.  There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

 

 

SOCIOL 211: Sociology and Popular Culture

SEMESTER 2, 2020

15 points

Teacher:   Ciara Cremin   c.cremin@auckland.ac.nz

Tutor: Vanessa Arapko kara388@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Vanessa's Office Hour: Wednesday 1-2pm (Social Sciences Building, Room 941) 

Course delivery format:

2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial

(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

 Summary of Course Description:              

Popular culture is in the air we breathe. It's the rhythm of our hearts. It stirs our passions. It engenders mass conformity on a global scale but can also inspire revolt. This course exams how popular culture influences our thoughts and stokes our desires. It examines the capitalistic logic of cultural production whereby culture becomes a commodity to make someone wealthy. With popular culture such an integral part of our lives, it is a study of the human personality.

 Course outcomes:

• 1. Appreciate the sociological significance of popular culture and understand its relationship to other cultural forms.
• 2. Be aware of the historic development of popular culture and the sociological study of it.
• 3. Have familiarity with some of the key thinkers and debates in scholarship on popular culture. 4. Be able to critically theorise forms of popular culture in the 21st century.
• 5. Gain a deeper understanding of Sociology as a discipline

 Assessment Summary:

Weighting of assignments and due dates if available, eg:

30% essay assignment due on

30% essay assignment due on

40% exam

Weekly Topics:

 1. Popular Culture in Context

2. Popular Culture and Commodification

3. Popular Culture and Desire

4. The Culture Industry

5. Postmodernism, or, the Cultural Logic of Late-Capitalism

6. The Birmingham School

7. Baudrillard and the Hyperreal

8. Barthes and Advertising

9. Žižek and the Culture of Enjoyment

10. Popular Culture and LGBTQI+

11. Capitalist Realism and Other Utopias, Guest Lecture

12. Film Special

 

Prescribed Texts:

See course guide

 Recommended Texts:

Optional info depending on course requirements

 Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:           

The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.