AJ06002 Introduction to British Studies II

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Stephen Paul Hardy, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Michael Matthew Kaylor, PhD. (lecturer)
PhDr. Lidia Kyzlinková, CSc., M.Litt. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel, B.A.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJ06002/A: Wed 16:40–18:15 G32, S. Hardy
AJ06002/B: Wed 18:20–19:55 G32, S. Hardy
AJ06002/C: Mon 8:20–9:55 G32, M. Kaylor
AJ06002/D: Mon 10:00–11:35 G32, M. Kaylor
AJ06002/E: Wed 15:00–16:35 G32, L. Kyzlinková
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ06001 Intro. to British Studies I
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 11 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course engages the broad cultural dynamics of Britain and its former colonies, with particular attention paid to the developing role of institutions and their impact on mechanisms of power, social conditions, and cultural production. Emphasis is placed on the changing discourses of British life – social, medical, ethical, religious, legal, political, monetary, scholarly, and familial – complex discourses which arose from the first Roman interchanges with the Celts, matured throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, were advanced by the establishment of Britain's almost-global dominance during the reign of Victoria, were impacted by the two World Wars, and continue to develop into the Britain we see today. Unlike 'Introduction to British Studies I', this course will concentrate primarily on the period after World War II. The required text, and the one covered on the exam, is "Investigating Culture and Identity" by Paul Taylor (Harper Collins, 1997).
At the end of the course, students will be able to discuss cultural theories with greater sensitivity and appreciation, and will have an understanding of the contexts from which those theories arose as well as situations in which they can be aptly applied in dealing with Britain.
Syllabus
  • Week 1: Introduction. Week 2: Introducing Culture and Identity (Taylor, Investigating Culture, pp. 1-25). Week 3: Consensus, socialization and solicial solidarity (pp. 26-53). Week 4: Class, power and ideology (pp. 54-81). Week 5: Gender and sexuality (pp. 82-110). Week 6: Race, ethnicity and nationalism (pp. 111-138). Week 7: Age, generation and subculture (pp. 139-164). Week 8: Signs, symbols and structures (pp. 165-186). Week 9: Interaction, agency and structuralism (pp. 187-211). Week 10: Modernity and postmodernity (pp. 212-247). Weeks 10-13: Devoted topics relating to place and environment; education, work and leisure; gender, sex, and the family; youth culture and age; class and politics; ethnicity and language; religion and heritage; present and future Britain.
Literature
  • Investigating Culture and Identity
  • FRANKOVÁ, Milada. A Reader. editor: PhDr. Lidia Kyzlinková. In British Studies. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1999, 128 pp. učební texty. ISBN 80-210-2119-5. info
  • British cultural identities. Edited by Mike Storry - Peter Childs. London: Routledge, 1997, xxii, 350. ISBN 0415136997. info
  • OAKLAND, John. British civilization : an introduction. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 1991, 256 s. ISBN 0415064759. info
  • MCDOWALL, David. An illustrated history of Britain a. Harlow: Longman, 1989, 188 p. : i. ISBN 0-582-74914-695. info
Teaching methods
Seminars, 1½ hours per week.
Assessment methods
Assessment: A written examination constituting 100% of the credit for this term (50 questions). Since this is only half of a two-term course, this exam will contribute 50% of the credit for the comprehensive grade at the end of the second term.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: 6 skupin studentů
Teacher's information
http://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=105
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
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