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(ENL248) -  Κωνσταντίνος Μπλατάνης

Course Description

The aim of this course is to familiarize students with basic, organizing principles of inquiry and central concerns defining contemporary theory of culture. The interest develops around the work of prominent and widely discussed individual theorists and their efforts to examine cultural production, dissemination, and consumption throughout the course of the twentieth century. Students are also guided to acquire sufficient understanding of key tenets of cultural theory developed by highly influential groups and major schools of thought, including the Frankfurt School, the Birmingham Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies, structuralism, post-structuralism, feminism and postcolonial studies. In addition, the epistemological and methodological tools that the various theorists and schools employ are approached and assessed in direct reference to specific currently debated issues as well as outstanding instances, pivotal moments, leading figures, major trends, and overarching notions that have decisively informed recent European and world history. Areas of interest include the interconnectedness of society and culture, the blurred distinctions between “high” and “low” forms of culture at present, the modes in which
sciences and the arts interact.  

         Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions and are advised to keep themselves informed about additional material distributed by the instructor. Also, students are invited to produce research papers on topics of their own interest in an effort to develop their writing and analytical skills.

Creation Date

Saturday, October 29, 2011