Contemporary Cultures

Year
1
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
02025878
Subject Area
Culture
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
10.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

The student should be able to read texts in English with a moderate degree of difficulty.

Teaching Methods

The course will function as a seminar based extensively on the analysis and discussion of texts, some of which will be presented by the students. Assessment will be based on the following work to be presented by each student: Synthesis work and oral presentation of a text (20%); short research project (15-20 pages) (60%); oral participation in class (20%).

Learning Outcomes

The course aims at the enlargement of the students’ cultural references and the development of their capacity of questioning and debating contemporary cultural theories and practices.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Starting with a preliminary reflection about the concept of culture and its multiple implications, the course will discuss a set of relevant notions that allow us to interrogate the concept of culture in a contemporary perspective, such as: language, representation and discourse; subjectivity, identity and difference; nation, multiculturalism, interculturality, globalization; race, ethnicity and post-colonialism; sexual identities and feminisms. This approach will bring into discussion several aspects of the history of culture and handle theoretical instruments that are needed for a contextual understanding of contemporary cultural practices.

N.B. The syllabus and bibliography may change depending on teaching staff.

Head Lecturer(s)

Catarina Isabel Caldeira Martins

Assessment Methods

Continuous Assessment
Synthesis work: 10.0%
Oral presentation of a text: 10.0%
Oral participation in class: 20.0%
Research work: 60.0%

Bibliography

Barker, C. (2008). Cultural Studies. Theory and Practice. Los Angeles: Sage (3ª ed.).

Bennet, T.Grossberg, L., Morris, M.  (eds.) (2005). New Keywords. A Revised Vocabulary of Culture and Society. Oxford: Blackwell.

Du gay, P., Evans J., Redman, P.(eds.) (2000). Identity: a reader. Los Angeles: Sage.

During, S. (ed.) (1994). The Cultural Studies Reader. London / New York: Routledge.

Giles, J., & Middleton, T. (2004). Studying Culture. A Practical Introduction. Malden: Blackwell.

Hall, S. (ed.) (1997).Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices, London: Sage.

Mattelart, A., & Neveu, É. (2006). Introdução aos Cultural Studies. Porto: Porto Editora.

Mc Robbie, A. (2005). The Uses of Cultural Studies. A Textbook. London: Sage Publications.

Williams, R. (1983). Keywords. A Vocabulary of Culture and Society. New York: Oxford University Press.