GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course will provide a perspective on contemporary British culture.
With Britain as a case theme, we also understand the diversity of cultures around the world and the significance of enhancing communication with people from other cultural backgrounds.

(1) Students will study the latest developments of, and arguments on, culture in Britain after WWII, particularly after the 1980s. During this period, British society and culture changed rapidly and were fragmented and reshaped. (2) Students will think of them in social, political, economic and historical contexts, and also study factors such as nation, ethnicity, gender, youth culture, commercialism, entertainments, and the internet. (3) Accumulating knowledge and having a map concerning contemporary British culture will contribute to students’ understanding of interdisciplinary discourses in media and academia. (4) This course will help build skills of acquiring information, analyzing materials, and writing reports.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

Students will learn the words, concepts, and proper nouns of every week’s theme. While giving consideration to the tradition, the conventions, and Britishness in culture, these themes will be analysed in the context of 21st-century Britain. The recent studies of culture will make debate issues more understandable to foreign students. Pictures, films, and music will be used in the class. For students’ further study, materials will be distributed, as well as related books and websites introduced.
Feedback will be given through Hoppii.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction

Introduction

2[対面/face to face]：A Survey of Post-war Britain 1950-79

Timeline and the economic, political and social context

3[対面/face to face]：A Survey of Post-war Britain 1980-present

Timeline and the economic, political and social context

4[対面/face to face]：English Language

English and the society, RP, PC, the Celtic languages

5[対面/face to face]：Journalism and the Media

Newspaper, magazine, alternative publications
The class compares Britain and Japan with regard to the conservation of culture

6[対面/face to face]：Literature (Poetry and Novel)

Experiments, women, ethnic minority, children, publication

7[対面/face to face]：Theatre

Realism, absurdity, musical, new dramas, comedy, theatre after Thatcher

8[対面/face to face]：Cinema

Social realism, pop style, Heritage films, Ken Loach, Independent films

9[対面/face to face]：Internet and Cyberculture

Trends in social media, video games, the web and the law
The class is expected to compare Britain and Japan in these aspects, discussing with international students

10[対面/face to face]：TV and Radio

BBC, commercial TV, political satire, soap opera, reality TV

11[対面/face to face]：Art, Architecture and Design

Francis Bacon, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Modernist and post-modernist architects

12[対面/face to face]：Popular Music and Fashion

Rock'n'roll, Mods, Beatles, Punk, post-Punk, club, Britpop, the business of music

13[対面/face to face]：Sport and Cultural Heritage

Gentlemen, the home nations, leisure, gender, disability, government, commerce
The country house, the National Trust, festivals, sectarianism
The class is expected to compare Britain and Japan in these aspects, discussing with international students

14[対面/face to face]：Review
End-term Examination

Students' inquiries and discussion, written examination

Students are required to read the assigned materials and prepare for class. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Textbooks will not be used. Handouts and reading materials will be provided by the lecturer.

David Christopher (2015). British Culture: An Introduction (3rd edn). London: Routledge.
Michael Higgins, Clarissa Smith and John Storey (eds.)(2010). The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Peter Childs and Michael Storry (1999). Encyclopedia of Contemporary British Culture. London: Routledge.
The BBC History website (The Making of Modern Britain): http://bbc.co.uk/british/modern/overview_1945_present_01.shtml

Evaluation will be based on class participation (30%), a writing assignment (20%), and exam (50%). More than two unexcused absences will result in failure of the course.

Nothing in particular.

Students should have completed UK: Society and People or have some basic knowledge about British society and culture.