107-080 Commodity Culture

Usually 12.5 points of first-year cinema studies. For cultural studies students 50 points of first-year arts including at least 25 points from a specified list of subject areas.

This subject forms a study of late 20th century-21st century commodity culture with a special emphasis on film, television, photography, advertising and interactive media. The relationship between advertising and commodity culture is studied in historical terms and various types of publicity, such as print and electronic advertisements, are analysed in terms of genre, myth and rhetoric. The subject is an overview of the major theoretical approaches to the study of consumer culture, such as political economy, anthropology of consumption, semiology and postmodernism. It should provide students with a framework for critical examination of commodity culture/s, art and advertising, and the commodification of aspects of everyday life such as fashion, sport, shopping and tourism.

• be skilled in critical thinking and analysis;

• develop research and writing skills;

• be able to account for the development of commodity cultures in the 20th and 21st centuries in relation to screen/film forms;

• have an understanding of social, ethical and cultural context.

A class paper of 1500 words 40% (due during the semester), an essay of 2500 words 50% (due at end of semester) and tutorial participation throughout semester 10%.