This course explores twenty-first century British culture focusing on three major topics: feminism, identity and crisis.

Students will examine how the aforementioned key themes have impacted on British society and have shaped the meaning of the word ‘British’ today through analysing the plays of contemporary women playwrights. These texts will be studied and discussed in dialogue with a selection of critical literature on feminism, theatre and cultural studies, as well as with films, newspaper articles and fundamental past literary works. 

The course aims at providing students with the theoretical and methodological tools to understand and comment on key issues pertaining to twenty-first century British culture, and identify how they are presented and debated in contemporary texts. Linking theory with empirical work, the course also aims at developing critical thinking skills and promoting autonomous judgment.

1)    Key concepts in cultural studies 

2)    Feminisms

Penelope Skinner: Linda

Laura Wade: Home, I’m Darling

Nina Raine: Consent

3)    Identities

Alia Bano: Shades

Bola Agbaje: Gone Too Far!

Morgan Llloyd Malcolm: Emilia

4)    Crises

Carol Ann Duffy: My Country

Lucy Prebble: Enron

Caryl Churchill: Escaped Alone

Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire a good knowledge and understanding of key topics concerning contemporary British culture.

Applying knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the theoretical and methodological tools to understand and comment on key issues pertaining to twenty-first century British culture, and identify how they are presented and debated in contemporary texts. 

Making judgements: students will acquire the critical thinking skills to judge aspects of British culture and will be able to express autonomous opinions on such issues.

Communication skills: students will be able to communicate their ideas, and the knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, clearly and unambiguously; students will be trained to engage with multiple identities and to avoid prejudices and stereotypes.

Learning skills: students will possess the methodological skills, the critical thinking skills and the ability to apply their theoretical knowledge to continue their studies in the field.

Il materiale didattico predisposto dalla/dal docente in aggiunta ai testi consigliati (come ad esempio diapositive, dispense, esercizi, bibliografia) e le comunicazioni della/del docente specifiche per l'insegnamento sono reperibili all'interno della piattaforma Moodle › blended.uniurb.it

• Lezioni frontali
• Lavori e discussioni di gruppo
• Uso di strumenti audiovisivi

Modalità didattiche

• Lezioni frontali
• Lavori e discussioni di gruppo
• Uso di strumenti audiovisivi

Didattica innovativa

• Activities on the Moodle course page
• Flipped Learning
• CLIL

Modalità di
accertamento

Written exam. Students are given 6 open questions, of which they should answer 5 (6 points per answer). Time allowed: 120 minutes.

Relevance: 1/6
Clarity, coherence and completeness of the content: 2/6

Critical skills: 2/6
Proper use of language (specific terminology): 1/6

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Modalità didattiche

Extensive self-study (detailed textual and contextual analyses of the texts) using the study material and the activities provided on Moodle. Students who perceive gaps in their understanding should contact the lecturer for further explanation as soon as possible.

Modalità di
accertamento

Written exam. Students are given 6 open questions, of which they should answer 5 (6 points per answer). Time allowed: 120 minutes.

Relevance: 1/6
Clarity, coherence and completeness of the content: 2/6

Critical skills: 2/6
Proper use of language (specific terminology): 1/6

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.