CULT11002 Cultural Industries

This course examines how our opinions, values and ideas are shaped by what we read, hear and watch. Even though the amount of information in our lives is overwhelming, this information is increasingly likely to come from a small number of huge international communication and entertainment companies. This course looks at how cultural industries work, by taking as an example the Disney Corporation, one of the largest communication companies in the world, and exploring the way it impacts on, and interacts with, individuals. The structure, history and products of Disney are considered in this course, as well as responses to Disney, both acceptance and resistance, from around the world. This course also introduces students to the academic skills of research, referencing and writing.