Theories of Popular Culture
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Course code
HIK6334.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Populaarkultuuri teooriad
Course title in English
Theories of Popular Culture
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2023/2024 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The subject introduces students to crucial questions in the theory of popular culture. It also provides them with information about the most significant contributors in that field. The subject looks at the history of pop-cultural thinking in the context of general trends and methods of the theory of culture.
Brief description of the course
The course provides students with the analytical overview on several theoretical ideas, mostly belonging to 20th century – Frankfurt School (Adorno, Marcuse, Benjamin), theory of ideology (Althusser, Gramsci), structuralist approach (Barthes), Cultural Studies (Williams, Hall, subcultural theory) and also concepts of „high“ and „low“ in culture (Bourdieu). Special attention is given to newer trends in pop-cultural thinking mostly related to the various concepts of postmodernity (Baudrillard, accelerationism etc).
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- is able to use basic vocabulary of pop-cultural analysis (concepts, methods, terminology) and to understand the ideas of the crucial theoretical contributors in the field;
- has bility to read critically and contextualize theoretical texts about popular culture (and culture in general) is expected to improve.
Teacher
Tõnis Kahu
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