2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
PIED5547M Popular Culture: World politics, Society and Culture
30 creditsClass Size: 120
Module manager: Dr. Nick Robinson
Email: N.Robinson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as an Elective
Module summary
How does popular culture shape our understanding of world politics? Does popular culture lead to increased violence? Does it denigrate women? Does it legitimate military conflict? Why do different countries produce such different types of popular culture? Why does the political establishment respond to popular culture the way it does and why do those responses vary so much? How do we understand the messages contained within popular culture and situate them in context? Popular culture is everywhere. Increasingly it is impossible to sustain the view that it is not absolutely integral to the political world in which we live. States are represented in popular culture and are frequently demonised in it. The people of the world are all consumers (and increasingly) producers of popular culture. Responding to this popular culture is being increasingly debated both socially and academically in terms of their impact and meaning. This module contributes to this debate, offering a combination of reflective thinking on how we understand the political, social and cultural impact of popular culture and considered debate into how we might better understand the messages contained within the popular culture. Perhaps, predictably an enthusiasmObjectives
This MA module aims to develop a critical understanding of the importance of popular culture for world politics. It aims to explore two key issues: (a) the political, social and cultural impacts of popular culture on world politics; and (b) to develop an ability to understand the meanings within popular culture artefacts such as films, novels, videogames, comics etc.Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Identify, explain and discuss key concepts and debates in the field of popular culture and world politics.
2. Discuss popular culture in its social and political context , so asking why do particular popular cultural artefacts invoke particular political and responses across a range of countries.
3. Use a range of methods to critically engage with popular cultural artefacts such as videogames, films, TV programmes, novels and comics, so probing what are the messages contained within them.
4. Demonstrate understanding of, and make connections between, popular culture and world politics and society.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1. Gather and evaluate data about cultural artefacts and make the importance of these understood in a number of contexts.
2. Identify and analyse relevant information in order to develop and defend informed arguments.
Syllabus
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Supervision | 4 | 1.00 | 4.00 |
| Seminar | 11 | 2.00 | 22.00 |
| Private study hours | 274.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 26.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
All students will be given the opportunity to submit a full draft/plan of their assessment for formative feedback and with a framework of structured support as they seek to finalise their proposed topic. Dr. Robinson has been using audio feedback to help students with formative feedback for nearly a decade now – he is a USEF on the basis of this practice – and will continue to do this for all students. Students will also be offered the opportunity to make and appointment or attend office hours to discuss their work. Four tutorials on the assessment progress will be offered in addition to the academic curriculum (students attend one of these tutorials at a time of their choosing).Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | Coursework | 100.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 29/04/2024 16:19:21
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