This course aims at developing a critical understanding of key aspects of twenty-first-century British history and culture with a focus on the ‘rebranding’ of Britishness in the period following the 2016 Brexit referendum. By the end of the course students will be able to identify, understand and discuss the problem of national identity/identities and its possible effects on the meanings and connotations of the word ‘Britishness’ and of the label ‘made in Britain’, both from a local and a global perspective. This course provides students with the theoretical and methodological tools to locate and analyse key issues of contemporary British culture as expressed in literary works, newspaper articles, songs, films, paintings, speeches and advertisements. Students are expected to engage with sources critically, combining theoretical study and empirical work. 

Rebranding Britishness Today

Introduction 

Culture, representation and power

Culture and consumption

Debates over the meanings of ‘Britishness’

British icons

The arts (focus on theatre and rock and popular music)

The monarchy

Food and cuisine

Local/Global Britain

Historical growth

Conteporary conditions

Britain in the world

Topographies of British culture

Geographical identities

Cimate and ‘the weather’

The environment and landscape representation

British media

Print and broadcasting media

Freedom of expression

Attitudes to the media

The people of Britain

Immigration, ‘race’ and religion

Social class

Cultural heritage

Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire a good knowledge and understanding of key aspects of twenty-first-century British history and culture.

Applying knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the theoretical and methodological tools to locate and analyse key issues of contemporary British culture as expressed in different kinds of texts and cultural products.

Making judgements: students will acquire the critical thinking skills to examine and discuss key aspects oftwenty-first-century British history and culture.

Communication skills: students will be able to communicate their knowledge and ideas using appropriate specialist language.

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.

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

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

Teaching

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.

Innovative teaching methods

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

Attendance

Students are invited to visit my page on Blended Learning Uniurb for further study materials.

Course books

Primary texts and important secondary scholarship will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

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

Assessment

Written exam. Students are given 6 open questions, of which they should answer 5 (6 points per answer). Time allowed: 50 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

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 the activities provided on Moodle (some of them are specifically designed for non-attending students). Students who perceive gaps in their understanding should contact the lecturer for further explanation as soon as possible.

Course books

Primary texts and important secondary scholarship will be made available on the Moodle Blended Learning page of the course.

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

Assessment

Written exam. Students are given 6 open questions, of which they should answer 5 (6 points per answer). Time allowed: 50 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

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.