TM9634 - Culture, Tourism and Eventful Cities

What will I learn on this module?

In an increasingly globalised world our cultural practices are changing and our ability to travel and visit cities, internationally, is increasing too. This also means that cities at a global level are competing for tourists as well as other visitors, ranging from producers and consumers of culture in myriad form.

In this module you will examine the concept of culture and its relationship with tourism, exploring the complexity of cultural tourism and its increasing globalisation in existing and emergent world destinations. Emphasis will be placed upon cultural tourism, events and festivalisation in urban contexts. Topics include, understanding cultural tourism and events, globalisation and trends in cultural tourism and events; cultural tourism in urban contexts; tourism and urban renaissance, cultural events and festivalisation, managing cultural cities, citizenship in cultural cities, heritage tourism; and tourism the media and popular culture.

Drawing on a wide range of theoretical and conceptual perspectives, you will develop an understanding of the way cities and urban spaces are becoming places of consumption and spectacularised through tourism, festivalisation and the staging of events. You will also have the opportunity to understand what it means to live in, and be a citizen of, the eventful city.

With this module you will develop interpersonal communication skills both in written and in oral form. You will learn to develop a sustained reasoned argument where you research and assess paradigms, theories, concepts and factual information, and apply such skills in the production of a written course-work assignment.

We will take the opportunity to consider Newcastle upon Tyne and other North East cities to illustrate the issues the module raises first-hand.

How will I learn on this module?

The two hour weekly lectures will provide you with a theoretical underpinning of the module content, relating theory to practice through real world examples. The one hour weekly seminar will give you the opportunity to apply the module content to contemporary contexts and develop further research into the topic.

Your directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. You will be expected to keep up-to-date with recommended readings and workshop activities. The self-directed study will be directly linked to the assignment. The assignment provides you with the opportunity to agree a topic of analysis with the module tutor. Alternatively, the tutor will choose a range of topics/questions from which you can choose one to study, address and analyse in written form.

Independent learning time is also set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will be provided to you by a member of academic staff leading the module and providing the lecture input. Other members of staff will contribute to the teaching of the module based on their research expertise.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, seminar exercise, alongside assessment details and various support facilities such as recordings of certain lectures and IT applications, alongside other electronic support facilities.

You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises various academic reports, books sections and journal articles that contributes to the understanding of concepts and ideas in culture, tourism, events and cities.

The module assessment will be based on a 3000 word written assignment. You will require desk-based research and application skills as well as an understanding of theoretical issues and concepts. All the necessary information for the assessment will be available to the e-learning portal. Specific time will be allocated in class to support the assessment.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the latest social science paradigms, theories, concepts and ideas as they apply to culture, tourism and eventful cities. (MLO1)

• Critically appraise understanding of the complex relations between culture, tourism, events and the urban process and the issues surrounding responsible tourism and events development and management in cities. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Critique personal values and attributes against the issues raised in this module around tourism and events development and management in cities. (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes
(Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• Contextualise relevant concepts and theories for the analysis of contemporary issues, and to exercise critical autonomy in assessing developmental issues in relation to tourism and events development and management. (MLO4)

• Critically evaluate the cultural and ethical issues pertaining to tourism culture within the city context. (MLO5)

How will I be assessed?

• The module assessment is by one 3000 word assignment.

• There will be scope for you to set the topic of the assignment in agreement with the module tutor in relation to the issues raised in the module. Alternatively, you can choose one topic/question from a range set by the module tutor to address in the assignment.

• You will be assessed on your ability to apply theories to the understanding and interrogation of a contemporary issue in relation to culture, tourism and events in cities.

• MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4 and MLO5 will be addressed by this summative assessment.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

In our globalised world, cities increasingly compete for tourists and other consumers of culture, and culture is becoming more central to the development of cities internationally. In particular, we are seeing more spectacular cultural events and festivals in cities than ever before, and that trend is growing, impacting not only on the way tourists consume the city but on the way people who live in cities live their everyday lives.

In this module you will have the opportunity of examining these trends by considering such things as: changing forms of cultural expression in cities; the remaking of cities and the roles of festivals and events in that, urban renaissance; gentrification; managing cultural cities, urban heritage tourism; the relationship between tourism the media and popular culture. You will also have the opportunity to consider what it means to live in, and be a citizen of, the eventful city.

Course info

UCAS Code N805

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years full-time or 4 year sandwich

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2024 or September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing.

Full time Courses starting in 2023 are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but may include elements of online learning. We continue to monitor government and local authority guidance in relation to Covid-19 and we are ready and able to flex accordingly to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with additional restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors, potentially to a full online offer, should further restrictions be deemed necessary in future. Our online activity will be delivered through Blackboard Ultra, enabling collaboration, connection and engagement with materials and people.

 

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