An inter-disciplinary field of teaching and research,
Cultural and Critical Studies emerged in the 80s out of developments in
its tributary fields of art history, philosophy, literary criticism, history
and anthropology. In this Program, both elite and popular cultural texts
are worthy objects of analysis. Texts you can investigate include:
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advertising
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film
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visual art
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photography
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oral history
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television
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fiction
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scientific theory.
Cultural and Critical Studies is an exciting and far-reaching
new field. The ANU's program will equip you with tools for making sense
of the social world.
In Critical and Cultural Studies, you will learn useful
concepts for understanding culture, both your own and others'. Fundamentally,
you will examine the exercise of power and the social structures, objects
and texts that emerge through this exercise. You will read the ideas of
important theorists like Foucault, Derrida, Lacan, and Barthes. Better
still, you will learn to use their concepts and strategies in your own
readings of cultural processes and products.
A major is comprised of:
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two first year points in Archaeology & Anthropology,
Art History, English, Film Studies, History, Philosophy or Political Science
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two compulsory units in Cultural & Critical Studies ('Reading
Contemporary Culture' and 'Theories of Culture'), and
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two designated units in Cultural & Critical Studies.
The compulsory units introduce students to methodologies
for analysing contemporary culture, and to interdisciplinary theories of
culture. One of these units will be taught each year. In first semester
1998, 'Reading Contemporary Culture' is offered. 'Theories of Culture'
will run in 1999. The units page tells
you more about these two units. It also lists the designated units from
which you can choose two additional units.
Some restrictions:
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a program major may not include more than four points from
a single department
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prerequisites for the designated units apply, unless you
obtain the permission of the CCS Convenor and the course Lecturer to use
a CCS compulsory unit as a substitute prerequisite.
Consult the Convenor at the staff
page for further information on the program, or for advice on structuring
your major. This page lists all CCS staff members and links to a profile
of each.
You can also peruse our short list of links
to other web sites of potential value to Cultural and Critical Studies
students.
Your feedback on this site is welcome. The site administrator is C.E.
Forth
