Working in the Cultural Industries

Code

CULT3041

School

Cultural, Media and Visual Studies

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

The cultural and creative industries are at the forefront of government strategies across the world for developing post-industrial economies, are seen as exciting places to work, and regularly feature at the top of graduate employment destinations.

But what are these industries, and what is it like to work in them? How do graduates gain entry to these competitive, highly skilled jobs? What is ‘creativity’ and why is it so important to modern economies? And what does the future hold for cultural and creative sectors?

The aim of this module is to develop reflective, critical and informed approaches to your future career and work. This module combines traditional academic scholarship on the structure, organisation and working patterns in the creative and media industries with more practical exercises designed to help you to identify and evaluate your own skills and interests, to help you to find a rewarding and exciting career when you leave university.

We will explore issues in the history and theory of contemporary work including key concepts such as creativity, the knowledge economy, precarious labour, and important issues such as internship culture, exploitation and inequality. There will be plenty of opportunity to discuss and build upon your own experiences and aspirations, and to conduct independent research on areas of creative and media work that interest you.

A single coursework assessment will replace all failed assessment components at the reassessment stage.

Target Students

Only available for International Media & Communication Studies students, Film and Television Studies students, History of Art students, Liberal Arts students and Exchange students

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 11 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks

Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester Further Activity Details: The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework: Coursework - 3,500 words portfolio of written work and equivalent

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

A: Knowledge and Understanding of:

1) the structure, organisation and working practices of the cultural industries

2) contemporary issues and debates on creative and cultural work

3) entry routes and career patterns in the cultural industries.

B: Intellectual skills:

1) thinking critically and imaginatively about the subject matter

2) interpreting primary and secondary sources about the subject matter

3) Reflect upon the limits of your own arguments, judgments and conclusions with reference to academic and/or professional issues, debates and conventions

4) evaluating different modes of creative working.  
 

C: Professional Practical Skills:

1) sifting and synthesising information from a range of sources

2) identifying, comparing and evaluating key arguments in these materials

3) presenting reasoned arguments using appropriate conventions.

D: Transferable Skills:

1) managing a large body of information

2) the ability to work effectively in teams

3) increased confidence in oral communication

4) managing and taking responsibility for one's own time and learning

5) presenting written work in an appropriate manner.

Conveners

• Dr Jack Newsinger