2010-11 academic year

The Contemporary World: Politics and Mass Culture  (20089)

Degree/study: Grade in Humanities
Year: 3rd..
Term: 3rd
Number of ECTS credits: 5 credits
Hours of studi dedication:
Teaching language or languages:catalan
Teaching Staff: Manel Ollé / David Martínez

1. Presentation of the subject

China, from the propaganda posters of the Cultural Revolution to Internet in the 21st century. Study and interpretation of the relations between politics and mass culture in the contemporary world.

2. Competences to be attained

General competences

Specific competences

 

  • Understanding and interpreting with critical skills both written and oral productions, as well as other types of academic documents (such as images or maps).
  • Using sound arguments to justify opinions and defend them in public (both for expert or inexperienced audiences).
  • Being able to use informatics tools, that is, knowing how to manage its applications, which are necessary for both academic and professional activities related to humanities. 
  • Teamwork skills, that is, respecting other people's opinions, which might differ from ours, and being tolerant.
  • Using and adapting the knowledge acquired in a context to new situations with flexibility and creativity.
  • Searching, selecting and preparing information and contents. 

 

 

  • Being able to analyse with sound arguments the conceptual frameworks of communication and mass popular culture.
  • Being able to reflect with analytical mind on cultural implications and the social impact of globalisation in different societies, specially focusing on Chinese frameworks and our surroundings.
  • Identifying the most relevant facts of contemporary history in Chinese frameworks.
  • Knowing the changes in forms of communication and mass popular culture in Chinese frameworks.
  • Relating economic, social and political features in contemporary Chinese frameworks and in our surroundings to the forms of communication and mass popular culture that are produced during this period.  
  • Analysing the social impact of the different media and technological tools in the popular culture and mass communication (written journalism, audiovisual or written fiction subgenres, internet, cinema, pop music, television and so on) in Chinese frameworks and in our surroundings.
  • Comparing the development of the mass culture within the contemporary Chinese frameworks and also with the processes in our surroundings.

 

3. Contents

 

1. Conceptual framework: globalisation, mass popular culture and media.

2. Historical framework: contemporary history of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

3. Chinese posters: publicity and politics

4. Cinema, scenic arts and power of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

5.  The social media in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan

6. Pop China in the popular republic: rock, rap, indie, martial arts, fashion, publicity, theme parks...

7. The social impact of Internet in China

8. Comparative reflection: politics, identity, culture and mass communication with a glocal perspective.

 

*The full version with the sections 4. Assessment, 5. Bibliography and teaching resources, 6. Methodology and 7. Planning of activities is available in the original version.

 

4. Assessment

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5. Bibliography and teaching resources

5.1. Basic bibliography

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5.2. Complementary bibliography

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5.3. Teaching resources

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6. Metodology

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7. Planning of activities

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