High, Popular, Mass Culture: Cultural Hybridity and Globalization in Latin America and Spain

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Key aspects of the politics, cultures and histories of the Spanish speaking world
• Theories of high, popular, mass culture and more recent ones in context of globalisation and hybridity in the Spanish speaking world
• A range of high, popular, mass, hybrid/ globalised cultural texts in different media from the Spanish speaking world and techniques for analysing a variety of cultural forms
• The similarities and differences between the cultures and societies of the Spanish Speaking world and how it may compare to your own culture
• An appreciation of the different modes of response of audiences of high, popular, mass/ globalised and hybrid culture of the Spanish speaking world

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• produce writing in appropriate genres and to required conventions, including referencing and identification;
• exercise independence and initiative
• adhere to guidelines and deadlines;
• use libraries, archives, learning resources and ICT to access relevant information
• plan and organise your learning through self-management;

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• select, synthesise and focus information about the Spanish speaking world from a range of primary and secondary sources
• define, present and exemplify concepts related to the Spanish Speaking world
• engage with subject matter and opinion in both breadth and depth
• apply knowledge, understanding and analysis critically to different topics relating to the Spanish speaking world

This module examines high, popular and mass cultural forms in twentieth century Spain and Latin America. Attention is particularly paid to the political uses made of those different forms. The module explores the function of popular culture in predominantly rural societies where literacy is low, and the co-option of selective aspects of popular culture for high-cultural purposes. It discusses notions of mass reproduction and its cultural consequences for cultural form and audience response, including the appropriation of mass culture and as developed in Cultural Studies. Recent developments in the field of Cultural Studies will also include notions of globalisation and cultural hybridity. This module will explore how the processes by which certain texts are incorporated into the high-cultural canon, paying attention to texts which have been read both as popular culture and as high culture. Material studied includes theoretical writings on high, popular and mass culture, as well as notions of cultural hybridity and globalisation. Texts studied might include popular prints; photography; popular music; popular cinema; fiction; festivities.

Following an introduction to theories of high, popular, mass culture, hybridity and globalisation, the lectures will introduce you to a wide range of cultural expressions from Spain and Latin America. In the seminars, you will be expected to relate the theory to that material, and develop their own analyses. The oral presentation requires you to research a small project, to present their analysis lucidly, and to clarify and support points in the discussion that follows. The essays seek to test your grasp of the theoretical and analytical issues raised, their capacity for independent research, and their academic writing skills. The essays require you to demonstrate your knowledge of the material covered and their ability to address questions raised about the issues discussed and to develop their own analysis.

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Seminars (including compulsory student presentations and group discussion)

Learning activities include:

• Close reading and analysis of varied forms of cultural expression
• Debating in class theoretical issues and differing interpretations of the texts
• Constructing arguments for presentation orally and in written work
• Independent research and study
• One-to-one tutorials

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.