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Politics and Popular Culture

Course on advanced level/second cycle. in English. The course is about narratives of politics in a globalized world, and more specifically depictions of contemporary world politics in science fiction and fantasy (SF).

Several key concepts to be explored are central to theoretical debates in both the humanities and social sciences, but tend to be used in very different ways by political scientists and media scholars - concepts such as realism, representation, identity, myth and power.

The course is structured around two theoretical traditions: the study of international relations, and narrative theory.

No previous knowledge of either field is required, nor are students supposed to become experts in these traditions by the end of the course. Instead, students will be expected to make scholarship out of the banal, by relating these theories to the sorts of popular culture texts encountered in everyday life, and in particular novels and films from the science fiction and fantasy genre.

  • Course structure

    After completing the course, the student can
    - compare myths about politics in IR and popular cultural texts,
    - show oral and written ability to understand both the theoretical traditions of the course and the related concepts and epistemological points of departure,
    - distinguish between primary and secondary sources, and show ability to compare different sources' ways of passing on knowledge of world politics; and apply these insights to independent analysis of popular cultural texts.

    Teaching format

    Teaching takes place in English in the form of lectures and seminars. All teaching is compulsory.

    Assessment

    The course is examined through a home exam, written assignments and an oral presentation. For more detailed information, see the course description.

     

    Examiner

    Examinatorer HT20

  • 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.

    Published two months before course start.

    See syllabus archive for all reading lists

  • Course reports

  • Contact

    studievagledare@ims.su.se

Selected reading

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