Course syllabus spring 2009
Course syllabus spring 2009
Title
Cultural Text Analysis
Swedish title
Cultural Text Analysis
Course code
IM411E
Credits
15 credits
Grading scale
UV / Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2008-09-12
Syllabus valid from
2009-01-19
Entry requirements
The special prerequisites for this course, besides general entry requirements for university studies, are a pass mark from the following upper secondary school courses: English B. 30 higher education credits.
Level
Basic level
Main fields
Language and Cultural Studies
English
Progression level
G1N
Course objectives
This course is an introduction to the analysis of cultural texts. In a series of lectures, the students will be introduced to text analysis, the analysis of institutions, and the analysis of media audiences. In follow-up seminars, a range of cultural texts will be studied closely.
Course contents
In this course the student learns how to analyze cultural texts in general and a selection of specific genres – such as newspaper journalism, sitcoms, literature, or computer games – in particular. The student acquires a general understanding of cultural texts (and their contexts) and competence in analyzing one or more genres thematically through notions such as such as gender, race or class.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After completing the course, the student
- has an understanding of the forms and contexts of cultural texts;
- has an understanding of how form and context affects analysis;
- understands the role of one or more specific forms of cultural texts in their societal context, and
- has an understanding of Malmö University’s perspective: the environment, gender, migration, and ethnicity.
Applying knowledge and understanding
After completing the course, the student
- can formulate appropriate research questions and employ suitable research strategies for analyzing a specific form of cultural text from a thematic perspective, and
- has the ability to apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspective – the environment, gender, migration, and ethnicity – in an analysis of a cultural text.
Making judgments and developing communication skills
After completing the course, the student
- has improved his or her ability to creatively and systematically tackle intellectual problems, both collectively and individually;
- has improved her or his skills in oral and written communication;
- can evaluate the merit of different methods for analyzing a specific form of cultural text, and
- demonstrates ability to manage agreed workloads and meet deadlines.
Learning activities
Learning activities are lectures, seminars, group work, and oral presentations in groups and individually.
Assessment
The course is assessed through oral presentations and written papers.
The presentations and papers are graded in the ECTS-scale.
If the student fails a paper, a new paper can be submitted two weeks after the course has finished. Students have a minimum of two re-take opportunities.
Course literature and other study material
Burton, Graeme (2005). Media and Society: Critical Perspectives. Berkshire: Open University Press. 378 pages. ISBN: 0335208800
Additional material may be introduced in the course, but no more than 100 pages.
Course evaluation
Evaluation is an integral part of the course. A final written evaluation based on the learning outcomes is done at the end of the course. This evaluation is used as a starting point for an oral evaluation which includes a discussion of measures to be taken to develop the course. The result of the evaluation is summarized and made available in a report to be used as a basis for future courses.