| Unit name | Introducing Culture |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCI10010 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Jo Haynes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit introduces students to the importance of both understanding social influences on cultural formations and cultural influences on social processes. It critically analyses structural process and conditions of production and consumption in capitalist societies. It seeks to understand how ideas of culture are shaped by particular social groups and the consequences for wider social processes. It looks at how representations of culture reproduce social and economic inequalities and how meanings, narratives, and symbols shape social practices and vice-versa. It questions how processes of cultural production and consumption are used to challenge and resist inequalities.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is an optional first year unit and is typically selected by the majority of first year single honours sociology students. The unit introduces students to the cultural stream of sociology. It provides an introduction to some of the ideas, themes and theorists that complement existing mandatory/optional units in first year such as Key Social Thinkers, Sociology in a Global Context and Social Identities and Divisions by broadening students’ understanding of the social influences on cultural formations and to understand cultural influences on social processes. Such ideas, themes and debates are elaborated on within units that incorporate a cultural focus in Years 2 and 3 such as Art & Society, Digital Society, The Sociology of Popular Music, Consumption & Sustainability and Queering Sexuality and Gender. Many single honours students draw on theories and debates from this unit to shape their dissertation research projects in their final year of study.
An overview of content
This unit introduces students to the importance of both understanding social influences on cultural formations and cultural influences on social processes. It critically analyses structural process and conditions of production and consumption in capitalist societies. It seeks to understand how ideas of culture are shaped by particular social groups and the consequences for wider social processes. It looks at how representations of culture reproduce social and economic inequalities and how meanings, narratives, and symbols shape social practices and vice-versa. It questions how processes of cultural production and consumption are used to challenge and resist inequalities.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Through the unit, students will learn how to mobilise sociology to question assumptions about culture. They will understand how we express and organise ourselves through the consumption and production of culture, including how culture produces ideas about the social world and ourselves through representations. They will become familiar with the effects that these ideas have had upon their everyday cultural practices and how these practices change or reinforce ideas about culture.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, students should be able to:
Students will learn through interactive, reflective, problem based and inquiry based approaches. These ways of learning are especially important for this unit as it seeks to unpack existing assumptions about what culture is and does given how embedded everyone is within their own cultural milieu. In the seminars students will engage in a range of activities and exercises that enable them to develop their ability to think critically about culture and its significant role within contemporary sociology.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
A 1-2 page essay plan. The plan will help students to prepare and develop their ideas for their summative essay. Students will be given written feedback and there will be group feedback also on general tips for developing arguments and crafting essays.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 2,000 word essay (100%) – ILO 1, 2, 3. The essay enables students to develop the necessary skills of critical reading, thinking and writing that disciplines such as sociology are built upon. The essay enables students to draw on their knowledge and understanding of sociological debates and ideas to creatively and critically address new questions or problems.
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete a reassessment in the same format as outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCI10010).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
