SOC-30033 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The module looks at the growing importance of celebrity in modern culture. From the Hollywood star system of the 1920s the module traces the changing perception of celebrity under a changing public gaze that demands that stars reveal everything about their lives. To this end, the module examines the changing representation of stardom, the notion of fame, and what is means to be (extra) ordinary, but also part of ordinary, everyday life.
The most successful celebrities are also marketable franchises. We look at the global processes behind the commoditisation of individuals, the hype and spin of the culture industry, celebrity worship and serial killers and the rise of "destructive idols", the importance of Hollywood, and our obsession with image. Finally, we look at the social and cultural implications of the significance attached to fame and success in the contemporary age, reality TV shows and YouTube celebrity, and ask whether, indeed, we can all be famous for 15 minutes?
Key topics:
Fame in the 21st Century
Serial killers, Violence and Celebrity
Reality Shows
Hype and Spin
Hollywood
Celebrity and Politics
New Social Media and YouTubers
Celebrity and Feminism
Image and Exposure

To encourage students to think about celebrity in a historical and cross-cultural setting.
To extend students understanding of key concepts such as globalisation, commodity and the public sphere in relation to the study of celebrity.
To enhance students ability to link socio-economic concepts and evidence within an interdisciplinary framework

Intended Learning Outcomes

Articulate and assess sociological and cultural perspectives of celebrity and how these have developed in a historical and cross cultural context: 1,2
Creatively source and organise 'data' that illustrates a particular exemplar and relate this to developing conceptual knowledge: 1,2
Evaluate the different factors shaping celebrity in a postmodern age: 1,2
Employ concepts and theories to analyse celebrity beyond its original context: 2
Communicate ideas, theories and knowledge about celebrity in written form: 1,2
Apply central concepts in the literature to real world and real data exemplars: 1,2

Study hours

22 contact hours (1 hour lecture: 1 hour tutorial)
28 hours Wakelet capsule/asychronous seminar preparation
100 hours assessment preparation, note taking and reading

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment