Course detail

Theory of Popular Culture

FaVU-2TPKAcad. year: 2026/2027

This course is an introduction to popular culture studies. Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to introduce the history of popular culture studies and important scholars; to clarify key terms and basic theoretical-methodological approaches; to show the influence of transformations of notions of culture on the subject of aesthetics. 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

Ability to read texts in English. Interest in visual culture.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Education consists of lectures and class discussions. Passing in written test (based on given literature) is necessary for the final grade. 

Aims

At the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- identify and summarize basic theoretical-methodological approaches to popular culture studies;
- clarify key terms;
- know important popular culture scholars. 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ECO, Umberto. Skeptikové a těšitelé. Translated by Zdeněk Frýbort. 1. vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 1995, 417 s. ISBN 30-205-0472-9. (CS)
MCLUHAN, Marshall. Jak rozumět médiím: extenze člověka. Edited by Jan Jirák, Translated by Miloš Calda. 2., rev. vyd. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2011, 399 s. ISBN 9788020424099. (CS)
SCRUTON, Roger. Průvodce inteligentního člověka po moderní kultuře. Translated by Klára Cabalková. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2002, 210 s. ISBN 8020010130. (CS)

Recommended reading

FISKE, John. Reading the popular. 2nd imp. London: Routledge, 1990, xi, 228 s. ISBN 041507875X.
FISKE, John. Understanding popular culture. London: Routledge, 1989, xi, 206 s. ISBN 0415078768.
POSTMAN, Neil. Ubavit se k smrti: veřejná komunikace ve věku zábavy. Translated by Irena Reifová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Mladá fronta, 1999, 190 s. ISBN 8020407472.
STRINATI, Dominic. An introduction to studying popular culture. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2000, xvi, 288 s. ISBN 0415157676.
STRINATI, Dominic. An introduction to theories of popular culture. London: Routledge, 1995, xviii, 301 s. ISBN 0415124700.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_M Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    1 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • Basic terms: culture, mass culture, popular culture.
  • Dichotomies of popculture.
  • Popculture and kitsch.
  • Frankfurter school and the cultural industry.
  • Theory of hegemony and ideology.
  • Structuralism and semiology.
  • Feminist criticism of popculture.
  • Popculture in postmodern times.
  • Simulation and simulacrum.
  • New media, virtuality, cyberculture.
 

Seminar

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid, Ph.D.

Individual preparation - study of technical texts

39 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid, Ph.D.

Individual preparation for an ending of the course

10 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Václav Magid, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Základní pojmy: kultura, masová kultura, popkultura.

2. Popkulturní dichotomie.

3. Popkultura a kýč.

4. Frankfurtská škola a kulturní průmysl.

5. Teorie hegemonie a ideologie.

6. Strukturalismus a sémiologie.

7. Feministická kritika popkultury.

8. Popkultura v časech postmoderny.

9. Simulace a simulakra.

10. Nová média, virtualita a kyberkultura.