English Cultural Studies Ii
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The main goal of English Cultural Studies II is to provide the methodological tools of cultural studies and apply them to understand and analyse cultures connected to the English context.
To this end, the course aims to enable students to:
- understand a second set of cultural practices and productions by adopting the methodological approach of cultural studies, applied to the English context;
- use this approach to understand and describe the key cultural concepts of the country or area being studied, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- read, analyse and interpret texts, practices and productions related to the English context, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- understand the historical, political, social and cultural background related to the cultural practices studied.
To this end, the course aims to enable students to:
- understand a second set of cultural practices and productions by adopting the methodological approach of cultural studies, applied to the English context;
- use this approach to understand and describe the key cultural concepts of the country or area being studied, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- read, analyse and interpret texts, practices and productions related to the English context, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- understand the historical, political, social and cultural background related to the cultural practices studied.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- use the specific language and skills of English cultural studies, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme and with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- apply this subject-specific language to mediation practices, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- use cultural skills to develop an aptitude for inclusion practices;
- read, critically analyse, summarise and compare cultural practices and productions in the contexts studied, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- make intercultural and interdisciplinary connections, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme.
- use the specific language and skills of English cultural studies, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme and with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- apply this subject-specific language to mediation practices, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme;
- use cultural skills to develop an aptitude for inclusion practices;
- read, critically analyse, summarise and compare cultural practices and productions in the contexts studied, with a higher level of complexity compared with the previous year;
- make intercultural and interdisciplinary connections, in line with the professional profile to be trained during the three-year programme.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course particularly addresses students who are interested in the English culture and in the cultures of English-speaking countries in international perspective, using the methodological approaches of cultural studies and postcolonial studies. The programme includes important critical texts pertaining the key notions of the course and of postcolonial studies, and also updates the debate to the present time. The heritage of colonization will be a key notion. In addition to theoretical essays, case studies will be examined in the light of the proposed theory.
Prerequisites for admission
Students should have a good level of Italian language competence. Basic English is also requested.
Teaching methods
Lectures will be delivered in presence according to the official timetable. Class discussion and debates are welcome. The course programme and materials will be available on the MyAriel website of the course. Students will be informed of any changes during classes. Attendance is highly recommended, however not compulsory. Classes will be in Italian. Materials will be both in Italian and in English.
Teaching Resources
Titolo / Title: Contested Histories in Contemporary Great Britain (and beyond) / "Contested Histories" nella Gran Bretagna dell'oggi (e nei paesi di lingua inglese)
Parte 1 Historical context, cultural politics and change: Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Studies today / Contesto storico, politica culturale e cambiamento: gli studi culturali e gli studi postcoloniali oggi.
Parte 2 Contested histories: theory and case studies / "Contested Histories": teorie e casi di studio.
Testi obbligatori / Compulsory texts:
- Grossberg, Lawrence, Gli studi culturali, il lavoro intellettuale e pratica politica. Saggi 2015-2021, Milano, Unicopli, 2021, pp. 7-87; 113-155; 201-255.
- McDonald, Sharon, "Is 'difficult heritage' still 'difficult'?", Museum International, vol. 67, nn. 1-4, 2015, pp. 6-22.
- Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty, "How the Heritage of Postcolonial Studies Thinks Colonialism Today", Janus Unbound: Journal of Critical Studies, 1, 1, Fall 2021, pp. 19-29.
Case studies:
- Olusoga, David, Black and British: A Forgotten History YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu4yOqdfStY - "David Olusoga: Black British History and Belonging"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YFPGHpeQ3c "Black History Month" Lecture 2024.
- The Rhodes Must Fall movement and the statue of Edward Colston
- Case studies in museums: British Museum in London and Hunterian Museum in Glasgow
- Monuments in democratic South Africa.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and Canada.
Additional compulsory materials in MyAriel:
Important websites and excerpts will be proposed and examined during the course.
Parte 1 Historical context, cultural politics and change: Cultural Studies and Postcolonial Studies today / Contesto storico, politica culturale e cambiamento: gli studi culturali e gli studi postcoloniali oggi.
Parte 2 Contested histories: theory and case studies / "Contested Histories": teorie e casi di studio.
Testi obbligatori / Compulsory texts:
- Grossberg, Lawrence, Gli studi culturali, il lavoro intellettuale e pratica politica. Saggi 2015-2021, Milano, Unicopli, 2021, pp. 7-87; 113-155; 201-255.
- McDonald, Sharon, "Is 'difficult heritage' still 'difficult'?", Museum International, vol. 67, nn. 1-4, 2015, pp. 6-22.
- Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty, "How the Heritage of Postcolonial Studies Thinks Colonialism Today", Janus Unbound: Journal of Critical Studies, 1, 1, Fall 2021, pp. 19-29.
Case studies:
- Olusoga, David, Black and British: A Forgotten History YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu4yOqdfStY - "David Olusoga: Black British History and Belonging"; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YFPGHpeQ3c "Black History Month" Lecture 2024.
- The Rhodes Must Fall movement and the statue of Edward Colston
- Case studies in museums: British Museum in London and Hunterian Museum in Glasgow
- Monuments in democratic South Africa.
- The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa and Canada.
Additional compulsory materials in MyAriel:
Important websites and excerpts will be proposed and examined during the course.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral test. It will take place in presence and will include the whole content of the course programme. No intermediate tests will be given. Marks will be 30/30. At the beginning of the course students will receive information on assessment procedures and criteria. The test may be taken in English or Italian depending on the student's choice. Students will be tested through analytical and critical discussions of the materials in the programme. The full programme also includes all the materials provided in the MyAriel website of the course. Marks and excellence will be awarded for coherent organisation of comments, proficient and accurate language use, critical depth in reading the materials, original thinking in the presentation, capacity of establishing accurate and creative connections between theory and practice, correct historical and cultural contextualisation of the examined texts, events, and practices. For students attending the course, individual contributions to the lessons will be appreciated.
L-LIN/10 - ENGLISH LITERATURE - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Gualtieri Claudia
Professor(s)