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ENG-20106 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

ENG-20106 - Teenage Dreams: Youth Subcultures in Fiction, Film and Theory
Coordinator: Nicholas Bentley Room: CBB2.057 Tel: +44 1782 7 33304
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

No

Barred Combinations

No

Description for 2026/27

Youth culture has had profound influences on society. On 'Teenage Dreams' you will examine the historical development of subcultures from the ‘classic’ period to postmodernism and study a range of representations of youth subcultures, from the 1950s to the present, including fiction, film, fashion, and music. These texts will be explored through theories of subcultures and through thinking about the pressing issues of class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity with which youth cultures have repeatedly engaged.

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 selected 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

recognize and evaluate a range of youth subcultures, and to discuss them in relation to historical period and ideological content
: 2
apply critical theories to the analysis of fiction and film
: 1
evaluate critically a range of theories associated with subcultural analysis
: 2
further develop analytical skills related to fiction and film analysis
: 1,2
evaluate how youth subcultures intersect with social and cultural contexts around class, race, gender and sexuality: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours seminars
12 hours lectures
24 hours seminar/lecture preparation
62 hours reading primary and secondary texts
10 hours working on short paper
30 hours working on essay

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exercise weighted 20%
Critical analysis (1000 words)
A 1000-word analysis of an extract from 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 be offered on this exercise that will feed into the other piece of assessment.

2: Essay weighted 80%
A 1750-word essay
A 1500-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 selected novels and/or films.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026