Introduction to Cultural Studies

Course Description

This course presents students with an overview of the methods and strategies applicable in cultural studies, and lays the foundation for analyzing art objects and artistic practices with a given social setting. It follows an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing how culture acts on individuals in a society, how it is produced and where it is located, and how it engenders or negotiates consensus. The course also explores the meaning of the term ‘culture’ and how culture is mediated in different contexts and geographical spaces.

Course Objectives

This course will enable learners to:

• Define ‘culture’ in the wider context beyond traditional African societies.
• Clearly explain how culture relates to power and how art helps to signify power relations in societies.
• Identify the various forms of cultural expression that influence artistic production.

This course presents students with an overview of the methods and strategies applicable in cultural studies, and lays the foundation for analyzing art objects and artistic practices with a given social setting.