Postgraduate Course: Youth Culture, Media and Society (SCIL11023)
Course Outline
School |
School of Social and Political Science |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
Home subject area |
Sociology |
Other subject area |
None |
Course website |
None |
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Course description |
This course will explore sociological understandings of youth cultures, tracing the socio-historical factors which facilitated the development of the modern youth market and critically evaluating the ways in which sociology has theorised the relationship between young people, popular culture and 'old' and 'new' media. Themes covered by the course include: subcultural and post-subcultural theory, young people and the mass media, young people, TV and film, cultural representations of youth style and gender identities, subcultural groups and ethnic identities, youth cultures and music scenes, young people and new technologies and global and local youth cultures. The course will also look beyond youth culture in a critical examination of the notions 'generation' 'Postsubcultural youth' and 'neo-tribe'.
Students will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the main sociological theories and concepts which have been forwarded in an attempt to explain the relationship between youth and popular culture, and to make connections with how the themes and issues covered in this course feed into wider sociological debates concerning issues such as: the significance of consumption in late modern society, the role of the media in the construction of social 'reality', the unstable and shifting nature of 'identity' in contemporary social settings and the relationship between the 'local' and the 'global'.
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Entry Requirements
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites |
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Prohibited Combinations |
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Other requirements |
None
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Additional Costs |
None |
Course Delivery Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Having completed this module, students should:
&· Understand how youth cultures have been approached as sociological objects of study
&· Have a clear understanding of the socio-historical factors which facilitated the development of the modern youth market
&· Gain a critical understanding of the main theories and concepts put forward to explain the relationship between youth and popular culture
&· Understand the ways in which youth culture is represented, shaped and constructed by the media
&· Have an understanding of the relationship between gender identities, ethnic identities and youth cultures
&· Gain an insight into how the themes and issues covered in the course feed into wider sociological debates concerning issues such as the significance of consumption in late modern society; the role of the media in the construction of social 'reality'; the unstable and shifting nature of 'identity'; in contemporary social settings; the relationship between the 'local' and the 'global'.
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Assessment Information
The course will be assessed by a 4,000 word essay on a topic related to the themes of the course. Students will be expected to develop their essay title (in discussion with the course convenor) and to show initiative in going beyond suggested readings and examples in approaching their topic. Students will be expected to demonstrate a critical understanding of conflicting theories, evidence and empirical research in the field and to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of key debates. |
Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
Not entered |
Contacts
Course organiser |
Dr Kate Orton-Johnson
Tel: (0131 6)51 1230
Email: K.orton-johnson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Caroline Foord
Tel: (0131 6)51 3009
Email: caroline.foord@ed.ac.uk |
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copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:41 am
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