This course provides an overview of the key concepts, theories, and issues in Cultural Studies. It introduces students to the origins and foundational concerns of Cultural Studies as an academic discipline and an intellectual practice; examines selected critical engagements with reference to specific contexts; and considers the work of Cultural Studies in relation to social, historical, and institutional conditions. The course also addresses such issues as the role of theory and analysis, the relevance of Cultural Studies for public cultures, as well as the constraints and possibilities faced by Cultural Studies practitioners today in their divergent attempts to engage in critical projects of our time.

COURSE OUTLINE

Cultural Studies