GCST2630: Semester 1, 2020

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Units GCST2630 Semester 1 2020 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

GCST2630: Consumer Cultures

Overview

Consumerism is a contradictory cultural formation. It is a source of meaning, pleasure and identity, but also a cause of environmental degradation, social injustice and, for some, individual alienation. This unit sets out some of the ethical, environmental and social problems associated with consumerism, and examines in detail some of the creative, ingenious and determined responses to these problems.

Details

Academic unit	Gender and Cultural Studies
Unit code	GCST2630
Unit name	Consumer Cultures
Session, year ?	Semester 1, 2020
Attendance mode	Normal day
Location	Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Credit points	6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions ?	GCST3603
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 1000 level in Cultural Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator	Guy Redden, guy.redden@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Guy Redden , guy.redden@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Guy Redden , guy.redden@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Case Study	50%	Formal exam period	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Promotional discourse analysis	20%	Week 04	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Consumption ethnography	15%	Week 07	750 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reading concepts quiz	15%	Week 11	750 words
Outcomes assessed:

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic honesty, academic dishonesty, and the resources available to all students.

The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic dishonesty or plagiarism seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: Cultural Studies and Consumer Capitalism	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 02	Theorising Consumerism and Consumers: Some Traditions	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 02	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Mediating Consumption: Advertising, Marketing and Everyday Media	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 03	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Gifts, Commodities and Diverse Economies	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 04	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Taste, Habitus, Class & Distinction	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 05	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Following things	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 06	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Extraction?: Labour, property, rights	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 07	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Food Stuff	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 08	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Sharing Economies	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 09	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Ethical Consumption	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 10	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Waste: Accumulation and Discard	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 11	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Fashion and Sustainability	Lecture (1.5 hr)
Week 12	No Description	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Unit Summary	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University’s graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate understanding of theories and concepts about consumption, production and sustainability
LO2. examine how consumption is organised, represented and practiced through application of relevant methodologies
LO3. undertake critical analysis of consumption practices and discourses surrounding them.
LO4. formulate and communicate complex understandings about the social significance and contexts of consumption

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Closing the loop

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

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To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

Disclaimer

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