Power Point slides from the lecture (will be made available on Learnweb)

Assmann, Aleida. Introduction to Cultural Studies. Berlin: Schmidt, 2012. (available in Semesterapparat 035, 1)

Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies. Theory and Practice. 5^th ed. London: Sage, 2016. (available in Semesterapparat 035, 1)

In the winter semester 2020/21, this lecture will exclusively take place virtually, using videos and videoconferencing tools. All necessary information on how to partake will be made available to the course participants when registration has closed.

It is highly recommended to also participate in course 4208 "Übung zu 4204 Einführung in die Kulturwissenschaft / Introduction to Cultural Studies", which runs parallel to this lecture, and which will provide you with exercises and the opportunity to ask questions and discuss course contents.

To participate in the written exam, registration with the POS is obligatory.

Very good English skills are necessary to pass this course.

This lecture will provide students with an introduction to Cultural Studies, covering the central dimensions of academic approaches to the discussion about and analysis of culture.

After an introduction to the complex concept 'culture' and related categories, students will learn about the essential concepts in its analysis: the role that signs and symbols play in culture, how 'discourse' shapes social and cultural patterns, the role that the media play, concepts of 'space' in different cultural forms etc. Modern approaches to 'memory' and 'identity' will also be introduced. The lecture will discuss aspects of gender, class, and race with reference to current academic discussions surrounding these issues.

To include practical applications of said concepts, this lecture will repeatedly discuss and interpret developments in German and U.S. American society as both points of reference and providers of rich examples.

- Pflichtveranstaltung für BA IIM: Modul S1-2.

- IKÜ-Studierende mit Anwendungsfach Interkulturelle Kommunikation: Modul IKK3.

- English students (EAL and others), if you can fit this lecture in your module plan. Please find out yourself, whether this is the case for your program.

- This lecture is recommended for exchange students with a very good command of English.