Considers popular culture as an important arena of social and political struggle. Students explore a variety of social practices such as wrestling, hip hop, weddings, and television talk shows, and consider the ways that these practices are linked to larger systems of power. [Prereq: SOC 310 or equivalent theory (C).]
Considers popular culture as an important arena of social and political struggle. Students explore a variety of social practices such as wrestling, hip hop, weddings, and television talk shows, and consider the ways that these practices are linked to larger systems of power.
How are systems of power reflected in, created through, and challenged within popular culture production and consumption? What do depictions of violence, and our massive consumption of and fascination with them, particularly the “serial killer”, show us about our society? How are certain subcultural groups depicted as deviant, and yet tremendous amounts of money are made from selling their identities and cultural productions? How do we continue to see racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc. in popular culture, as well as challenges to these isms?
These are some of the questions we will ponder, using the lens of cultural studies/popular culture theory. We will read about a wide variety of pop culture and its interaction with various social institutions and structures.
