Introduction to Cultural Studies Course | IIT Madras | Prof. Avishek Parui
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 792 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Humanities and Social Sciences, English Studies |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlocking the World of Cultural Studies: A Comprehensive Postgraduate Guide
In an increasingly interconnected and complex world, understanding the forces that shape our identities, societies, and knowledge systems is more crucial than ever. The Introduction to Cultural Studies course, offered as a specialized postgraduate program, provides a rigorous 12-week journey into this vital field. Led by the distinguished Prof. Avishek Parui of IIT Madras, this course is designed to deconstruct and analyze the very fabric of culture.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Avishek Parui
Bringing a wealth of academic expertise to the virtual classroom, Dr. Avishek Parui is an Assistant Professor in English at IIT Madras and an Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. His research and PhD supervision span cutting-edge areas including medical humanities, masculinity studies, memory studies, and postmodernism. Prof. Parui is also the author of the recent publication Postmodern Literatures (Orient BlackSwan), ensuring that students learn from an instructor actively shaping the discourse in contemporary critical theory.
Course Overview and Objectives
This course moves beyond a simplistic view of culture as mere arts and customs. It posits culture as a dynamic and asymmetrical entanglement of material conditions and abstract ideas. Through an interdisciplinary lens drawing from political theory, psychology, and critical theory, the curriculum investigates how core categories like identity, authority, and knowledge are constructed, contested, and lived.
Intended Audience: This course is ideally suited for B.A. and M.A. students specializing in English and Cultural Studies.
Prerequisites: A foundational understanding at the B.A. level in English or Cultural Studies is recommended.
A Week-by-Week Journey Through Critical Theory
The 12-week syllabus is meticulously structured to build a comprehensive understanding, pairing foundational questions with seminal texts and thinkers.
| Week | Key Topics & Theorists |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | What is Culture? Culture, Identities, Values, and Key Lenses for Cultural Studies. |
| Weeks 2-3 | Colonial Discourse: Edward Said’s Orientalism and Homi Bhabha’s The Other Question. |
| Weeks 3-4 | Colonial Narrative & Postmodernism: George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant and Lyotard’s The Postmodern Condition. |
| Weeks 5-6 | Postcolonial Psychology & Gender: Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks and Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble. |
| Weeks 7-8 | The Human Condition & Authorship: Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition and Michel Foucault’s What is an Author? |
| Weeks 9-10 | Social Construction & Patriarchy: Ian Hacking’s The Social Construction of What? and bell hooks’ Understanding Patriarchy. |
| Weeks 11-12 | Contemporary Reality & Conclusion: Slavoj Žižek’s Welcome to the Desert of the Real and course synthesis. |
Essential Reading List
The course engages deeply with landmark texts that form the cornerstone of Cultural Studies. Students will analyze:
- Edward Said’s Orientalism
- Homi Bhabha’s The Other Question
- Frantz Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks
- Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble
- George Orwell’s Shooting an Elephant
- Lyotard’s The Postmodern Condition
- Hannah Arendt’s The Human Condition
- Michel Foucault’s What is an Author?
- Ian Hacking’s The Social Construction of What?
- bell hooks’ Understanding Patriarchy
- Slavoj Žižek’s Welcome to the Desert of the Real
Why Enroll in This Cultural Studies Course?
This course offers a unique opportunity to:
- Gain Interdisciplinary Proficiency: Learn to analyze culture through political, psychological, and philosophical frameworks.
- Learn from an Expert: Be guided by Prof. Parui, a recognized scholar and author in postmodern and cultural theory.
- Build a Critical Toolkit: Develop the vocabulary and theoretical models to critique power structures, identity formation, and social norms.
- Engage with Foundational Texts: Gain direct exposure to the original works that define the field, from postcolonialism to gender theory and postmodernism.
- Prepare for Advanced Research: The course is an excellent foundation for students considering future PhD work in the humanities and social sciences.
Supported by Teaching Assistants Soham Chakraborty and Arindam Nandi, this 12-week intensive course is more than an academic module; it is an invitation to critically engage with the world. Whether you aim to deepen your scholarly expertise or enhance your analytical perspective, the Introduction to Cultural Studies provides the essential framework for understanding the complexities of contemporary life.
Enroll Now →