This course explores twenty-first century British culture by focusing on two major issues: national identities and market forces. Considering theatre as a field in which British culture has been historically rich and globally influential, and a site of debate and negotiation around national concerns and perceptions, students will analyse plays by contemporary playwrights to examine how different identities and market forces have shaped the contemporary meaning of the word ‘British’ and impacted British society. The texts examined in this course will be discussed in dialogue with a selection of critical literature in the areas of history, theatre, cultural studies and social studies as well as films and newspaper articles. The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools to understand and explain key issues pertaining to twenty-first century British culture and identify how these issues are presented and debated in contemporary texts. By linking theory with empirical work, the course also aims to develop critical thinking skills and promote autonomous judgment.

Contemporary Britain: national identities and market forces.

1) Introduction

Key concepts in cultural studies

A brief survey of British history

British theatre and new writing

2) National identities

Nationalism, regionalism and Brexit

Carol Ann Duffy: My Counrty

Class communities

Simon Stephens: Motortown

The underclass

Leo Butler: Redundant

The countryside

Richard Bean: Harvest

The urban landscape

Carol Ann Duffy: Everyman

Muslim identities

Alia Bano: Shades

Black communities and cultural hybrids

Bola Agbaje: Gone too Far!

3) Market Forces

Privatizations

David Hare: The Permanent Way

The National Health Service

Joe Penhall: Blue/Orange

The educational system

David Eldridge: Under the Blue Sky

Money problems

Dennis Kelly: Love and Money

The global financial crisis

Lucy Prebble: Enron

British economy and the recession

Ella Hickson: Precious Little Talent

Sex trafficking

Lucy Kirkwood:

it felt empty when the heart went at first but it is alright now

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 with a high degree of autonomy.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Use of audiovisual aids, group work and group discussions is an integral part of the programme.

Students are invited to visit the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course for further study activities. 

Teaching

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group work and group discussions
• Presentations
• Audiovisual aids

Innovative teaching methods

Activities on the Moodle course page

Flipped Learning

Debate

Course books

Selected parts of the texts and secondary literature (required reading) will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

McCormick, John. Contemporary Britain. London: Bloomsbury, 2023.

Sierz, Aleks. Rewriting the Nation: British Theatre Today. London: Bloomsbury, 2011.

Assessment

Written exam in English. Students are asked to answer two essay questions on the programme’s topics and reading list. Expected total length is about 400 words (200 words per question); allowed time is 50 minutes.

Assessment:

Clarity, coherence and completeness of the content 50%

Effective use of sources 30%

Proper use of language 10%

Proper use of The Chicago Manual of Style 10%

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Extensive self-study (detailed textual and contextual analyses of the texts) using the study material and activities provided on Moodle and, if necessary, authoritative sources available in the web.

Students who perceive gaps in their understanding should contact the lecturer for further explanation as soon as possible.

Course books

Selected parts of the texts and secondary literature (required reading) will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

McCormick, John. Contemporary Britain. London: Bloomsbury, 2023.

Sierz, Aleks. Rewriting the Nation: British Theatre Today. London: Bloomsbury, 2011.

Assessment

Written exam in English. Students are asked to answer two essay questions on the programme’s topics and reading list. Expected total length is about 400 words (200 words per question); allowed time is 50 minutes.

Assessment:

Clarity, coherence and completeness of the content 50%

Effective use of sources 30%

Proper use of language 10%

Proper use of The Chicago Manual of Style 10%

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.