Politics and popular culture
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Spring
- Course code
- GOV219
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
While there are many definitions of popular culture, it is generally understood as consisting of (a) ideas, norms, and beliefs dominant in a particular society /community at a given time, (b) material objects and products such as music, film, television, video games that reflect these ideas, norms and beliefs, and (c) the ways in which individuals and organizations interact with these material objects. As such, popular culture engages the majority of the population and, therefore, shapes and is being shaped by politics at the local, national and global level.
To understand how politics and popular culture interact with each other, the course focuses on a broad set of cultural activities - including film, television, theatre, music, video games, literature (incl. comics), street art, other visual and performing arts. It specifically looks into:
- How individual actors (e.g. artists, celebrities), organizations involved in producing or organising consumption of popular culture (e.g. culture trade unions, production companies, broadcasting companies and associations etc.), as well as public authorities at various levels (e.g. ministries of culture) affect and are affected by different political processes.
- How popular cultural activities, practices and objects reflect and shape individuals' political values, identities, attitudes and preferences? Does popular culture reproduce or challenge dominant narratives? Does it contribute to resolving or amplifying political conflicts?
Overall, the purpose of the course is to equip students with knowledge, skills and competences necessary for identifying, interpreting and understanding how popular culture and politics are intertwined.
This includes politics through popular culture, meaning how popular culture influences individuals' attitudes, political preferences and voting behaviour, popularity and acceptance of particular political and policy solutions, support for political organisations (political parties, interest groups), individual and collective political identity, international relations etc.
It also concerns politics of popular culture, e.g. how are contemporary (geo-)political and societal developments portrayed in popular culture? How are production and consumption of popular culture influenced by politics, e.g. through censorship or de-platforming?
Learning Outcomes
A student who has completed the course should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge
The student...
- can recognize the variety of instances in which politics and popular culture interact
- can identify actors, structures and processes that constitute said interaction
- can describe, compare and contrast key theoretical concepts and perspectives relevant for understanding the interaction between politics and popular culture
Skills
The student...
- is able to apply theoretical concepts and perspectives when critically assessing a specific popular culture phenomenon and its relationship to politics
- can identify and apply relevant methodological approaches for engaging in such a critical assessment
- can use the insights on the interaction between politics and popular culture for understanding political actors, structures and processes more generally
General competence
The student...
- can systematize and present key theoretical, methodological and empirical insights from the course in oral and written form
- can provide constructive feedback to peers
- can engage in productive teamwork
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Open to all students with right to study at UiB.
Enrollment is limited to a maximum of 40 students. Students will normally not be admitted unless they have completed 90 ECTS.
Class registration in Studentweb is application for admission.
Teaching and learning methods
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
- Oral presentation on a given topic
- Attendance of the seminar
The compulsory assignments must be approved in order to take the exam. Approved compulsory assignments are valid in the current and following two semesters.
Forms of Assessment
Take home exam, 3 days, maximum 3000 words, excluding the title page, table of contents, references, tables, and attachments.
The exam will be given in the language in which the course is taught. The exam answer can be submitted in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Assessment in teaching semester.
Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to studieveileder.gov@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired.