This module builds on the knowledge and skills gained from the first year modules 'Cultural Analysis: Theory, Politics and Practice'; ' Cultural Analysis: Media ad Cultural Research methods'; and 'Understanding European Identities'. It aims to enable students to study aspects of certain national cultures in Europe by drawing on the expertise of research of members of staff within ERI. Beginning with an in-depth focus on issues introduced to students during their first year, such as globalisation, the re-emergence of nationalism, the strength of 'the local', the impact of migration in contemporary Europe etc, knowledge of which is essential to investigate contemporary European societies, the module then moves on to further develop students' research skills. In particular, it tackles the problems of cross-cultural research in order to develop their sensitivities and awareness of the issues involved. The module then asks students it interrogate a variety of examples of actual research conducted in different cultural settings, using research projects conducted (or planned) by staff of the ERI as the studies.
The module will be divided into three blocks.
Block 1 - Defining Globalisation, Glocalisation, Transnationalism, Neo-nationalism, hybridity etc. and discussing the impact that such phenomena have had on contemporary Europe.
Block 2 - Issues associated with cross-cultural research, including: positionality; cultural imperialism; cultural self-awareness; the impossibility of 'translation' etc.
Block 3 - Case studies of actual research projects (some now completed, some still ongoing or even still in the process of being developed) focusing on a variety of different European settings (either within one specific culture, or as part of a comparative project, or as part of a multi-sited project). The context and background of such projects will be discussed with students. It will be shown how such contextual knowledge has informed the process of research.