MDS-20024 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

The DJ John Peel has the words 'Teenage Dreams so hard to beat' carved on his gravestone, a line taken from The Undertones's classic punk song 'Teenage Kicks'. Peel's love of the music, style, attitude and outlook of youth subcultures encapsulates a general and ongoing fascination for writers, filmmakers and critics alike. On this module we will examine a range of theories related to the concept of subcultures, and how they relate to wider issues of class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity. We will look at the development of subcultural theory from the Chicago School, the Birmingham School and semiotics through to postmodern theories. This theoretical context will be discussed with respect to a range of textual representations of youth subcultures including fiction, film, fashion, pop songs and lyrics. We will explore issues related to the identification and historical development of a range of youth subcultures including teenagers, Mods, Rockers, punk, hip hop, R'n'B, and postmodern. We will also analyze the way in which subcultures produce meaning and how they relate to concerns in mainstream culture. Texts studied on the module might include Colin MacInnes's Absolute Beginners, The Who's Quadrophenia (album and film), Julien Temple's The Filfth and the Fury, Gautam Malkani's Londonstani and Irvine Welsh/Danny Boyle's Trainspotting.

To introduce students to theories related to subcultures in cultural studies.
To introduce an understanding of the historical development of subcultures from the 1950s to the present.
To closely analyse selcted examples of fiction and film that engage with and offer representations of subcultures.
To enhance students' academic and research skills through targeted teaching practices and assessments.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate a knowledge of relevant subcultural theories will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
recognize and evaluate a range of youth subcultures, and to discuss them in relation to historical period and ideological content will be achieved by assessments: 2
apply critical theories to film and ficition will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
evaluate critcally a range of theories associated with subcultural analysis will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
further develop analytical skills related to fiction and film analysis will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2

Study hours

12 hours lectures
12 hours seminars
30 hours seminar preparation
60 hours reading primary and secondary texts
12 hours working on short paper
24 hours working on essay

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment