UNIT: Cultural Studies

1ST YEAR, APPLIED LANGUAGE STUDIES

Tutor: BOGDAN ALDEA

UNIT ONE: INTRODUCTION

1. Cultural Studies: what is culture?

cultural studies/historical studies
understanding others: stereotypes
2. Great Britain:

common stereotypes
Britain, the UK, or England? - The nations of Britain: historical
legacy, national and ethnic identity, devolution (1997) v. federalism

A. Wales: heritage and identity

Language (bilinguals, monolinguals) and culture (Welsh in the media and literature)
Political identity National Assembly for Wales; Welsh political parties (Plaid
Cymru)
B. Scotland: heritage (clans) and identity
Language (bilinguals, monolinguals) and culture (Scots Gaelic in the media and
literature)
Political identity Scottish Parliament; Scottish political parties (SNP)
C. Ireland: North and South; the Troubles; heritage and identity
Language (bilinguals, monolinguals) and culture (Irish Gaelic in the media and
literature)
Political identity Northern Ireland Assembly (1998, Good Friday Agreement);
Irish political parties north and south (Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist
Party; Fianna Fil, Fine Gael)
Bibliography: see the general bibliography.