About Cultural Studies
Cultural Studies means studying culture - but from particular angles
A lot of attention is paid to contemporary theories of culture, including questions of how culture is produced, how we use and interpret culture, how culture can be preserved, destroyed, or changed, how our sense of identity merges with our culture, and what is happening to culture in the new world of commodity circulation, communications and information technologies, and globalisation.
'Culture' is understood in a very broad sense, including all the social processes of everyday life. Cultural Studies questions traditional distinctions between 'high' and 'low' culture, and shows that everyday life may be the object of complex and significant analysis. Many cultural forms which have often been ignored by universities become prominent here: advertising, media, music, fashion, sport and leisure are shown to be extremely powerful political forces in shaping our societies and our identities.
In Australian, American, and European universities where Cultural Studies has developed hugely in the last two decades, one of its central strengths is seen to be its cross-disciplinarity, that is, the way that it draws on the perspectives, methods, and theories of numerous fields of study. The idea is not to reduce culture to something simple and unified, but to appreciate its complexity. The programme being developed at Canterbury draws on more than fifteen participating programmes-most of the Faculty of Arts!
Career opportunities
Cultural Studies leads to careers in fields where a wide analytic grasp of contemporary culture is required: the media industries, journalism, publishing, writing, website design, advertising, museology, public relations, school teaching, etc. Because of the breadth and flexibility of its understanding of culture, it also makes possible a lot of movement among such fields.
Because of its innovative methods and perspectives, Cultural Studies is an increasingly popular base for students moving into postgraduate research. It offers a wide range of thesis prospects and methods of work. Its cross-disciplinarity helps build a supporting postgraduate community. Because of its contemporary emphasis, Cultural Studies is a popular field for mature students who may have completed a more traditional education but have a curiosity about new developments in education and cultural policy.
The objective of Cultural Studies is not to undermine traditional subjects - but it will expand the context in which you see them!
For more detailed information on what Cultural Studies is about
- Have a look at the Cultural Studies Handbook. The handbook is full of information about the Cultural Studies Programme: papers offered this year; undergraduate and postgraduate degree structure; and facilities and resources. You can pick up a hard copy from Room 303, English/Education Building.
- Have a quick look at any of the Cultural Studies readers in UBS or on three-day loan in the Central Library (entrance level). A good place to start is Introducing Cultural Studies , by Elaine Baldwin (and others), on three-day loan at HM 623 .I61 2000.
- Look at the policy document the Canterbury Working Party used to develop this programme.
- Check out some of these websites: