Examination arrangement

Course content

This course explores popular culture through the lens of gender, and its intersections with other categories including race, class, sexuality, and disability. It engages with popular culture via themes such as heteronormativity and homophobia, racism and sexism, discrimination and colonization, equality, inclusion and diversity. It provides insights into how popular culture both shapes and critically engages with gendered ideals, drawing on a selection of popular culture productions which may include television, film, music, books, videos, magazines, comics, games, fashion, and advertising, as well as a variety of digital and/or social media.

The course is taught in Norwegian or English.

Learning outcome

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge about popular culture’s role in the production and reproduction, as well as the critique of gender norms and gendered subjects, from an intersectional perspective.

Students who complete this course will acquire knowledge of

• Foundational humanities and social scientific theories about gender, sexuality, racialisation and discrimination
• The role of popular culture in producing, reproducing and/or engaging critically with hegemonic (or potentially alternative) discourses about gender, as well as other differences
• The intersectional interplay between gender, sexuality and race in specific popular cultural productions.

Students who complete this course will be able to

• Apply theoretical concepts and perspectives to discuss gender, race, class, and sexuality, as well as other markers of differences such as class and disability in contemporary popular culture
• Recognise political and theoretical positions in current debates about gender, equality and diversity in popular culture
• Critically examine a range of popular culture media and apply the appropriate conceptual tools to independently analyse them

Learning methods and activities

The teaching and learning for this course will consist of lectures, and activity based learning. The learning activities will be participatory and rely on classroom discussion and group activities. There will be two compulsory written assignments, both of which must be completed before admission to the examination. There will be a home-based examination.

The course is intended to be in Norwegian but adaptations can be made for English language students if the need arises.

Compulsory assignments

• Written exercises

Further on evaluation

Home-based exam.

Course materials

Will be given at course start