2024
Questions on Contemporary Culture
Name: Questions on Contemporary Culture
Code: LLT12725L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Literature
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
The unit has as an object of study contemporary cultural products without geographical boundaries. Thus, it is
intended that the student be able to: to know/recognize the thematic diversity of different contemporary western
cultural forms, especially with regard to literature; to purchase critical capacity, developing explanatory
reasoning, analytical and judicial regard to emerging trends in contemporary discourse on culture; to develop
critical reasoning skills on aesthetic; and to improve the methodologies of analyzing cultural productions
through the reading of literary texts.
The student is expected to debate on cultural differences and their consequences, and be able to give arguments
for different point of views, as well as to develop independent, critical analysis within an interdisciplinary
context. The student will also be enable to show a critical and metacultural competence, recognizing the
diversity of what it is nowadays the concept of culture.
intended that the student be able to: to know/recognize the thematic diversity of different contemporary western
cultural forms, especially with regard to literature; to purchase critical capacity, developing explanatory
reasoning, analytical and judicial regard to emerging trends in contemporary discourse on culture; to develop
critical reasoning skills on aesthetic; and to improve the methodologies of analyzing cultural productions
through the reading of literary texts.
The student is expected to debate on cultural differences and their consequences, and be able to give arguments
for different point of views, as well as to develop independent, critical analysis within an interdisciplinary
context. The student will also be enable to show a critical and metacultural competence, recognizing the
diversity of what it is nowadays the concept of culture.
Contents
Introduction
1. From erudition as empirical reality of activities around the culture to critical faculties focusing an elaborate
discourse on culture.
a) Questioning the concepts.
b) Globalization and cultural diversity.
c) Multiculturalism and interculturalism.
d) Nation and post-colonialism.
f) Mass communication and cultural industries.
g) Society and new technologies.
2. Art and Culture: culture, counterculture, anticulture and mainstream. Subcultures, urban culture and
cosmopolitanism.
3. Artistic dissemination processes and culture of masses. The culture and the media. Consumerism and the
culture industry. Communication strategies and artistic productions: kitsch, graffiti, pop culture, movie big hit
and the best-seller novel, crossover, blue romance, soap.
Themes of culture, reading topics
1. Glocalization: the presence of the local dimension in global culture.
2. Leisure, recreation and free time: misconceptions about erudition.
3. The contemporary acceleration.
1. From erudition as empirical reality of activities around the culture to critical faculties focusing an elaborate
discourse on culture.
a) Questioning the concepts.
b) Globalization and cultural diversity.
c) Multiculturalism and interculturalism.
d) Nation and post-colonialism.
f) Mass communication and cultural industries.
g) Society and new technologies.
2. Art and Culture: culture, counterculture, anticulture and mainstream. Subcultures, urban culture and
cosmopolitanism.
3. Artistic dissemination processes and culture of masses. The culture and the media. Consumerism and the
culture industry. Communication strategies and artistic productions: kitsch, graffiti, pop culture, movie big hit
and the best-seller novel, crossover, blue romance, soap.
Themes of culture, reading topics
1. Glocalization: the presence of the local dimension in global culture.
2. Leisure, recreation and free time: misconceptions about erudition.
3. The contemporary acceleration.
Teaching Methods
Lectures; critical and comparative review of texts and excerpts from selected works of reference bibliography;
reading and commenting excerpts of novels; presentations of the students about the exposed subjects.
Observation of situations in which take place discussions on contemporary culture related to literature.
Continuous evaluation- each student must carry out during the school year, two assessment tests (50% each
one) through which show they mobilize reflections and have learned the lesson. Continuous evaluation implies
the presence in 75% of classes.
Examination - written exam held at the time of examination, with the weight of 100%.
reading and commenting excerpts of novels; presentations of the students about the exposed subjects.
Observation of situations in which take place discussions on contemporary culture related to literature.
Continuous evaluation- each student must carry out during the school year, two assessment tests (50% each
one) through which show they mobilize reflections and have learned the lesson. Continuous evaluation implies
the presence in 75% of classes.
Examination - written exam held at the time of examination, with the weight of 100%.
Teaching Staff (2023/2024 )
- Cláudia Maria Ferreira de Sousa Pereira [responsible]
