School of Humanities  
 
 
MDS-20024 Teenage Dreams: Youth Subcultures in Fiction, Film and Theory  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nicholas Bentley    Room: CBB2.057, Tel:33304  
Teaching Team: Mrs Victoria  Norman, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts,  Paul  Rixon  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
English and American Literatures Single Honours (Level 2)
English with Creative Writing Single Honours (Level 2)
English Dual Honours (Level 2)
English Major (Level 2)
English Minor (Level 2)
Film Studies Dual Honours (Level 2)
Media, Communications and Culture Dual Honours (Level 2)
Media, Communications and Culture Minor (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Barred Combinations
None
Prerequisites
None
Description

The DJ John Peel has the words 'Teenage Dreams so hard to beat' carved on his gravestone, a line taken from The Undertones's classic punk song 'Teenage Kicks'. Peel's love of the music, style, attitude and outlook of youth subcultures encapsulates a general and ongoing fascination for writers, filmmakers and critics alike. On this module we will examine a range of theories related to the concept of subcultures, and how they relate to wider issues of class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity. We will look at the development of subcultural theory from the Chicago School, the Birmingham School and semiotics through to postmodern theories. This theoretical context will be discussed with respect to a range of textual representations of youth subcultures including fiction, film, fashion, pop songs and lyrics. We will explore issues related to the identification and historical development of a range of youth subcultures including teenagers, Mods, Rockers, punk, hip hop, R'n'B, and postmodern. We will also analyze the way in which subcultures produce meaning and how they relate to concerns in mainstream culture. Texts studied on the module might include Colin MacInnes's Absolute Beginners, The Who's Quadrophenia (album and film), Julien Temple's The Filfth and the Fury, Courttia Newland's Society Within and Irvine Welsh/Danny Boyle's Trainspotting.
Aims
To introduce students to theories related to subcultures in cultural studies.
To introduce an understanding of the historical development of subcultures from the 1950s to the present.
To closely analyse selcted examples of fiction and film that engage with and offer representations of subcultures.
To enhance students' academic and research skills through targeted teaching practices and assessments.
Intended Learning Outcomes
demonstrate a knowledge of relevant subcultural theories will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
recognize and evaluate a range of youth subcultures, and to discuss them in relation to historical period and ideological content will be achieved by assessments: 2
apply critical theories to film and ficition will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
evaluate critcally a range of theories associated with subcultural analysis will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
further develop analytical skills related to fiction and film analysis will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Study hours
12 hours lectures
12 hours seminars
30 hours seminar preparation
60 hours reading primary and secondary texts
12 hours working on short paper
24 hours working on essay
Description of Module Assessment
01: Short Paper weighted 20%
A 1000-word analysis of an extract from a critical theory
Students will choose to discuss one from a choice of three extracts from different theories related to subcultures. They will be asked to apply this theory to a scene from a film or an extract of prose fiction. Feedback will offered on this exercise that will feed into the other pieces of assessment.
02: Essay weighted 40%
A 2,000 word essay
Students choose one question from a list of 8-10. The essay will require students to reflect on aspects of subcultural theory and apply them to a selected novel or film. They will not be allowed to analyse the same primary text in the exam (and they will be reminded of this in the exam rubric).
03: Seen Exam weighted 40%
A 2-hour exam
The exam will be in two parts: Part 1 will ask students to analyse a song lyric with respect to relevant cultural theory. Part 2 will be a general essay question; students will choose 1 from a choice of 8 to 10 questions. They will not be allowed to analyse the same primary text as in the essay.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 02/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.