KUMS4044 Work, Economy, and Culture (5 cr)

Completion methods

Taught course. Independent work (book exam, reading group or assignment) is possible in special cases.

Content

The course provides historical, theoretical and empirical knowledge about culture as a field of employment, entrepreneurship, the economy and expertise. Students learn about concepts such as digital work, Fordism and post-Fordism, creative work, commons, peer production, new co-operatives, affective work, precarisation, knowledge work, cognitive capitalism, the attention economy, old and new professions, playbour and so on. The course also covers cultural entrepreneurship from different perspectives and the related conflicts. Students consider a variety of social and political conditions, changes and trends that affect the commercialisation of culture and the conditions of employment and entrepreneurship in this field. Students also look at new and emerging forms of expertise in the cultural industries as well as the role of knowledge in the management and policies of a networked society.

Assessment criteria

80% participation in teaching and written assignments or lecture exam. Completion by independent study – essay, a book exam or reading group.

After completing the course, the student will:

• be able to examine culture from the perspective of creative work, entrepreneurship and expertise
• be familiar with the historical changes in culture, work and the economy, as well as a variety of labour and economic theories and
• identify a variety of forms of work in fields of cultural industries and activities ranging from the arts to cultural production and administration.