The aim of this course is to teach students the practicalities of “doing research” using a Cultural Studies approach. Students learn to design their own research project by using a range of research methods and tools, such as, library research and literature review, textual and visual analyses and interview method to research fans, users, and audience.

Cultural Studies adopts a critical interpretive approach focusing on an analysis of local and global power relations in studying ‘cultures from below.’ Researchers engage with questions of identity and difference using the circuit of culture methodology which examines media meanings at three different sites: at the site of media text and representation (content and composition); the site of its production (encoding of meaning, generic frames, and media institutions); and at the site of its audience (decoding by the viewers, users, and consumers).

Students can choose from a wide range of topics to design their project depending on their interest. Some examples include fan cultures, news industry and democracy, film audiences and national identity, music industry and youth culture, digital and social media, fake news and conspiracy theories associated with viral spread of misinformation via Facebook and Twitter, gendered surveillance in the postfeminist media culture, representations and stereotypes of minority groups and identity formation, etc. show less