Course Catalogue

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This course is concerned with tracing the economic and social origins of distinct youth and subcultural forms and practices during the twentieth century. It examines changes and continuities in consumption, crime, music and fashion, linked to political, social and economic shifts in Britain, Europe and the United States of America. The course will consider how and why distinct youth subcultures formed; who participated in these subcultures; and what responses these provoked from national and local authorities.

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40 credits averaging grade B3 or above in level 1 Economic and Social History,

OR 40 credits averaging grade C3 or above in level 2 Economic and Social History,
OR 20 credits at grade C3 or above in level 1 Economic and Social History AND 20 credits at grade C3 or above in level 2 Economic and Social History AND 20 credits at grade C3 or above in another cognate subject, at the discretion of the Honours Convenor

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One primary source essay (2500 words, 60%)

One project (2000 words, 40%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

The course aims to encourage a critical approach to twentieth-century social and cultural history; grounded in an understanding of youth, culture and subculture and deviance and how economic and social factors influenced social actors and their experiences of culture, music and society across Britain and the United States of America. The course aims to develop critical awareness of the factors which shaped access and participation in subcultural movements, encouraging students to think about cultures and subcultures in relation to power and privilege, class, sexuality and gender, space and place. The course aims to encourage students to think about cultures and subcultures in relation to power, class, sexuality and gender, and music.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the different historiographical, theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of youth culture, deviance and society.

2. Critically assess the impact of economic, social, political and cultural changes on the experiences of youth culture in Britain, and with reference to developments in Europe and the United States of America.

3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of the experiences of women and men in the period, across class, place and space.

4. Using a range of historiographical and theoretical writings, and primary sources, to debate and analyse the emergence of distinct social subcultures; collective organisation and the responses these provoked from official arms of the state

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.