MA Culture, Style and Fashion

Course Summary

This unique research-based course is for people who are fascinated by trends and meanings in visual and material culture, and who want to become expert in understanding how surface appearance and changing fashions in diverse fields relate to cultural ideas and values. You’ll learn through the study of core histories and theories, and develop advanced knowledge of academic approaches to key concepts such as glamour, cool, nostalgia, and authenticity. You’ll communicate your ideas about culture to a range of audiences in professional and innovative ways. Assessments take the form of academic conference papers, short audio / visual presentations, or documentaries and journalistic articles. This will prepare you for careers in cultural research, or as a commentator.

This course will help you to develop a range of postgraduate attributes including: independence and self-direction, literacy, team-working, communication in a range of media, the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines. Graduates from this course will be equipped with expert and current knowledge and skills relevant to a range of potential careers and further study. These include: cultural journalism across a range of subjects and media; authoring cultural books and commentary for a wider audience; research and consultancy where understanding of trends and issues affecting consumers is needed; curation or communication roles in cultural institutions such as museums and galleries; teaching at further education or higher education level; progression to PhD study with the goal of teaching and / or research.