Global Consumer Society
The overall aim of the course is to introduce students to a theoretical framework for analysing consumer cultures from a global perspective.
The course aims to introduce students to the intricate ways in which various market actors influence consumers’ lived lives around the world. The overall aim of this course is to give students the necessary theoretical tools to decipher consumer culture, which should be understood as a social arrangement in which the relations between lived culture and social resources, and between meaningful ways of life and the symbolic and material resources on which they depend, are mediated through markets.
The course consists of a series of lectures where a diverse set of theories dealing with consumer culture is discussed. The theoretical materials are subsequently put to use through a series of seminars where students are invited to reflect on various empirical materials, such as advertising and popular culture, as well as their own experiences as consumers.
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Course structure
The course workload is 200 hours equivalent to 7,5 ECTS (40 hours per week equivalent to 1,5 ECTS).
The language of instruction is English.Teaching format
The course consists of a combination of lectures, seminars and group work and requires a significant portion of self-study on the part of students. Assessment for the course will be continuous and is carried throughout the different activities of the course.
Please note that all teaching and learning activities - such as lectures, seminars, assignments and assessment tasks – are carried out in English when the language of instruction is English.Assessment
Assessment for the course will be continuous and is carried throughout the different course activities. Each assessment task is weighted in relation to its importance in the overall assessment of the course. The student’s results from the different assessment tasks are added up to a total course score that will then translate into the final grade for the course.
Assessment tasks
The course contains the following weighted assessment tasks:
1. Individual course essay.
2. Group Work.
3. Active seminar participation.
4. Individual seminar assignments.After completion of the course, students will receive grades on a scale related to the intended learning outcomes of the course. Passing grades are A, B, C, D and E. Failing grades are Fx and F. A grade Fx can be completed for a grade E.
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
See reading list in the current syllabus.
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Contact
Course coordinator: coursecoordinator@sbs.su.se
Head of course: Jacob Östberg
