This course will introduce students
to the history, theories, and methods of contemporary cultural studies, with
particular emphasis on mass culture and everyday life. We will introduce and
explore key concepts in cultural theory such as hegemony, consumption, and
simulation, and use them to examine specific aspects of popular culture, such
as the mass media (fiction, television, and film) and cultural sites and
practices (museums, theme parks, shopping) and subcultures (punks).