Institute of Education London

Youth Culture, Media and Education

Course Code:MMAMCC_18

This module looks at the changing nature of youth culture, and its relations with contemporary media. We begin by considering the tradition of research on youth culture in Cultural Studies, and how this work has evolved over time. We consider the methodological difficulties in defining and studying youth culture, broader theories of culture and subculture, and different ways of interpreting the history of youth cultures in post-War Britain. We also look at the changing ways in which youth have been represented in popular media, particularly film, television and music video. We then move on to consider how these existing approaches are being changed and adapted in the context of increasing globalisation, and in relation to the advent of digital media. This involves looking at global youth cultures, and the relation between Western and non-Western forms; and at how media such as the Internet, mobile phones and computer games offer new possibilities (and also new constraints) for the creation of youth cultures. As part of the course, students will be required to design and carry out a small-scale research project exploring one aspect of contemporary media/youth culture: this may focus, for example, on aspects of popular music, internet fan cultures or consumer culture. We will consider appropriate methodologies for youth culture research, including ethnography and discourse analysis. The course can be taken on its own, as part of the Institute of Education's MA in Media, Culture and Communications, or as a 30 credit optional module on many of the IOE's MAs.

Related Programmes

Sociology Of Childhood And Children's Rights MA
Media, Culture And Communication MA