2015-16 iteration: “Neoliberal capitalism, class, race, gender and sexuality”

http://contemporarytheories181mc.wordpress.com/

What are the most important contemporary theories in media studies? Where do they come from? And what are they for, anyway?

This module examines the key theoretical paradigms that have shaped and informed the character of contemporary themes, issues and debate within culture and media studies. We will use a case study approach to investigate themes such as neoliberal capitalism, class, gender and sexuality, race, and interpret them theoretically. For example, we will look at new forms of sports masculinity; package holidays in Spain; pregnant men.

In the course of our analysis we will trace how particular approaches to culture, media and communication have emerged and attained saliency historically. We will discuss how these various approaches have interacted to give us the multi-faceted academic field we have today.