EKIA4300 Popular Culture Texts (5 op)

In this course, popular culture is understood as a multifaceted phenomenon; however, our emphasis is on the role of popular culture in textual production. The texts we discuss range from contemporary literature to film and other multimodal popular forms. We read and analyse different kinds of popular culture texts in order to learn about their circulation, functions and how they participate in meaning production in society. We also acquaint ourselves with theories of popular culture and concepts that are relevant in this particular context.

• Are familiar with different approaches to popular culture
• Understand the multiformity of roles played by popular culture in societies
• Can discuss the historicity of contemporary phenomena and see for example the processuality of popular representations
• Are able to understand how popular representations create and shape social and cultural identities 
• Are familiar with the ways in which popular culture texts in different ways participate in meaning creation in societies
• Can apply theoretical concepts in critical discussions of popular culture

A list of literature provided at the beginning of the course.