ESB031 Theory of the Popular Culture

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Ondřej Krajtl (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Dr. phil. Jakub Mácha, Ph.D.
Department of Aesthetics – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Rostislav Niederle, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Aesthetics – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 12:00–13:40 G24, except Mon 18. 11. to Sun 24. 11.
Prerequisites
Reading texts in English.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 100 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 84/100, only registered: 0/100, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/100
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course is an introduction to popular culture studies. Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to introduce the history of popular culture studies and important scholars; to clarify key terms and basic theoretical-methodological approaches; to show the influence of transformations of notions of culture on the subject of aesthetics.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- identify and summarize basic theoretical-methodological approaches to popular culture studies;
- clarify key terms;
- know important popular culture scholars.
Syllabus
  • Basic terms: culture, mass culture, popular culture.
  • Dichotomies of popculture.
  • Popculture and kitsch.
  • Frankfurter school and the cultural industry.
  • Theory of hegemony and ideology.
  • Structuralism and semiology.
  • Feminist criticism of popculture.
  • Popculture in postmodern times.
  • Simulation and simulacrum.
  • New media, virtuality, cyberculture.
Literature
  • ECO, Umberto. Skeptikové a těšitelé. Translated by Zdeněk Frýbort. 1. vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 417 s. ISBN 30-205-0472-9. info
  • MCLUHAN, Marshall. Jak rozumět médiím : extenze člověka. Edited by Jan Jirák, Translated by Miloš Calda. 2., rev. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2011, 399 s. ISBN 9788020424099. info
  • SCRUTON, Roger. Průvodce inteligentního člověka po moderní kultuře. Translated by Klára Cabalková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2002, 210 s. ISBN 8020010130. info
  • STRINATI, Dominic. An introduction to studying popular culture. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2000, xvi, 288. ISBN 0415157676. info
  • POSTMAN, Neil. Ubavit se k smrti : veřejná komunikace ve věku zábavy. Translated by Irena Reifová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1999, 190 s. ISBN 8020407472. info
  • STRINATI, Dominic. An introduction to theories of popular culture. London: Routledge, 1995, xviii, 301. ISBN 0415124700. info
  • FISKE, John. Reading the popular. 2nd imp. London: Routledge, 1990, xi, 228. ISBN 041507875X. info
  • FISKE, John. Understanding popular culture. London: Routledge, 1989, xi, 206. ISBN 0415078768. info
Teaching methods
After teacher's presentation of the general and particular features of the subject, students are guided to interpretation of the chosen extracts, and class discussions follow.
Assessment methods
Education consists of lectures and class discussions. Passing in written test (based on given literature) is necessary for the final grade.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Obecné podmínky ukončování kursů Semináře estetiky
The course is taught annually.
General note: Obecné podmínky ukončování kursů Semináře estetiky.
Information on course enrolment limitations: posluchači bc. estetiky, kteří začali své studium před více než třemi semestry, musí mít splněnu postupovou zkoušku (ESAPZE), jinak si tento předmět nemohou zapsat. Pro ostatní obory není zápis omezen.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/el/1421/podzim2011/ESB031/index.qwarp
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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