1105-1
Vorlesung Kulturstudien: Analysing British Culture(s): Politics, Society, Identity
montags 11.15-12.45 Uhr, Seminargebäude S 302, Böhnke, Dietmar
During the past few years, British politics and culture (and especially the question of Britishness) have once more become a topical and hotly debated issue, especially in relation (and opposition) to the European context and the internal diversity of the British Isles – 2014 saw the failed Independence Referendum in Scotland and 2016 the decision to leave the EU (“Brexit”, which finally happened at the beginning of 2021). With the Scottish question still not finally solved and Northern Ireland again a hotspot of conflicts, this issue shows no signs of becoming uncontroversial any time soon. In order to understand better what is happening on the British Isles today, one needs to analyse political and social structures and ‘narratives’, which often have a strong historical component. As a follow-up to the historical overview and the introduction to theories of British Cultural Studies, this lecture series is therefore offering an in-depth analysis of aspects such as the British parliamentary, electoral and party systems, the role of the monarchy, national and regional identities (Scotland, Wales, (Northern) Ireland, Northern England etc.), ethnic minorities and multiculturalism, class and education, the British media etc. In each case, it will be using contemporary or historical examples and case studies drawn from British literature, film/TV and popular culture.
- Trainer/in: Dietmar Böhnke