Introductory description

This is a core module in the second year of the the BA in Liberal Arts course. It complements the other core module with each exploring a major organizing concept of contemporary society from different intellectual perspectives.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Term 1

1. Defining Consumption
2. Historical Contexts
3. Consumption in the Nineteenth-Century
4. Conspicuous Consumption
5. Commodification
6. Consumer Activism
7. The House of Mirth
8. The Self in Consumer Society
9. Landscapes of Consumption
10. Presentations
    Term 2
11. The Culture Industry
12. Pop Art
13. American Psycho
14. Eating the Other
15. Grime Music
16. Inconspicuous Consumption
17. Eating Out
18. Anticonsumerism
19. Sustainable Consumption
20. Review
    Term 3
21. Research project guidance
22. Research project guidance
23. Research project guidance

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of historical, sociological and cultural theorisations of consumption, and critically assess a range of frameworks and methodologies.
• Analyse the language of consumption, and representations and interventions in literature, visual culture and music.
• Critically consider notions of use, value, waste and decay in relation to consumption.
• Explore problems and generate well-informed responses to a wide range of issues relating to consumption.
• Demonstrate advanced cognitive skills such as critical analysis, source-text analysis, qualitative research methods, and oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate meta-cognitive skills such as: planning how to approach a learning task and identifying the appropriate strategies to solve a problem.
• Demonstrate the ability to use methodologies from sociology, visual cultures, history, English studies, and cultural studies to analyse a range of sources in cultural and historical perspective.

Interdisciplinary

This is a core module on the BA in Liberal Arts course which offers a unique transdisciplinary learning experience enabling students to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge

Subject specific skills

Analytical skills attained through analysis of the language of consumption, and representations and interventions in literature,visual culture and music
Critical evaluation skills attained through consideration of notions of use, value, waste and decay in relation to consumption

Transferable skills

Advanced cognitive skills such as critical analysis, source-text analysis, qualitative research methods and oral and written communication skills
Meta-cognitive skills such as: planning how to approach a learning task and identifying the appropriate strategies to solve a problem.