This course lays down a basic framework of cultural studies by familiarizing students with foundational texts of cultural studies and the ways those texts have been applied to cultural artifacts across a variety of disciplines. Beginning with seminal texts from the eighteenth century, the course will trace a short chronology of cultural studies by examining its many different foci, including Marxist studies, gender studies, urban studies, entertainment studies, and others.

The second half of the course gives students the opportunity to practice the principles of cultural studies by analyzing fictional artifacts through the lens of cultural studies. English 208 A picks up the concept of the contemporary family as a theme that is exhibited in a multitude of instances in present-day culture, and thus is beneficially examined through the lens of cultural studies. In class discussion and essay writing, students will examine the current embattled definition of “family” in America under the rubrics proposed by cultural scholars, and make complex arguments about the meaning of that battle.

Students of English 207 A will be assessed for their ability to comprehend and retain information about cultural studies, including major theorists, vocabulary, and practice of the discipline. Students will also be expected to demonstrate proficiency in applying the theoretical habits of thought discussed in class in order to form clear, complex, and meaningful written arguments.

Course Texts
Course Reader
Sedaris, David. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim ISBN 978-0316010795
St. Aubyn, Edward. Mother’s Milk ISBN 978-1890447427