3301 Cultural Analysis I

Prerequisites

Same requirements as for the programme of study

Course Objectives

The students will develop basic analytical and practical skills within the field of cultural analysis, with special attention being paid to interactive analysis, language and use of symbols, and social distinctions. The students will develop their interpretative skills and learn to use analytical concepts when interpreting social processes and symbol-use that can be directly experienced through observation.

Learning Methods

Lectures, submission of written work (mandatory), group work, discussions, and presentation of written exercises.

Course Description

The course focuses on social interaction. A variety of examples taken from everyday life and from the cultural field will demonstrate how culture is one aspect of all human activity.

The main topics:

• Culture concept
• Social interaction and understanding processes
• Comparison and methodological relativism
• Data: from observation to analysis
• Symbols and concepts as communicative tools
• Gender, age, social class, region, ethnicity
• Power

Assessment Methods

Written home-examination which counts for 40% of the final grade and a final examination which counts for 60%. Grades: A-F. Both the home-examination and the final examination must receive passing marks in order to achieve a passing grade for the course.

Pensum