Introduction to British Life and Institutions

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• an understanding of the way racial, class and gender identities are played out in Britain
• awareness of the ways of doing, thinking and being in contemporary Britain.
• analysis of the range of British attitudes, practices and values
• an understanding of the multifaceted nature of Britain and the shifting identity loyalties of British people relating to ‘Britain’ and to their separate nations of origin, in Britain or (for immigrants) abroad, and also to their regions

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• reflect on the influence of social stereotypes in forming ideas of identity
• access a range of critical materials;
• awareness of the a variety of methods of academic analysis
• appreciate critically key notions of identity and relationships
• engage with theory in analysing the interaction of social groups
• awareness of a variety of theoretical concepts related to the study of culture and society

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• team work in working on group presentations and other projects, collaborating with partners, exchanging ideas, presenting findings, and engaging in self-evaluation;
• demonstrate understanding of elements of cultural theory which can be applied to the study of other societies
• present ideas in a structured, coherent manner.

This module deals with:

analysing and discussing concepts of Britishness using academic theories in relation to culture and society.

Concepts and examples include introductions to:

Devolution, regionalism, nationhood and nationalism

Language and citizenship

Race and ethnicity

Identity, identification and social diversity

Systems of class

British political system

Representations of British popular culture

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• 1 lecture and 1 seminar per week.

Learning activities include

• Reading printed materials, engaging with other cultural productions including music, photography, film and other materials provided
• Research for seminars and assessments
• Non-assessed group presentation

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Wodak, R (2012). Language, power and identity. Language Teaching.

Textbooks

Hall, Stuart, and du Gay, Paul, eds (1996). Questions of Cultural Identity. London: SAGE Publications.

Bernstein, B (1971). Class, Codes and Control: Theoretical Studies Towards a Sociology of Language. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Jones, O. (2011). Chavs: the demonization of the working class. London: Verso.

Storey, J (2009). Cultural Theory and Popular Theory: A Reader.. New York: FT Prentice Hall.

Shukla, N. (2017). The Good Immigrant edited. London: Unbound.

Smith, A. D (1991). National Identity. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External