Cultural and Critical Theory MA (PGCert PGDip)

Why study with us?

• The course is surrounded by a vibrant postgraduate culture, and by a broad and inclusive research environment. Each year, we host many public lectures, workshops and conferences, all of which are open to our MA students. We also encourage participation in the many reading groups that take place at Brighton.
• The course is run by staff who are experts in their specialist areas, and who have a wide range of research interests in philosophy, critical theory, aesthetics, and cultural studies. This expertise encompasses topics such as applied ethics; politics; political activism; art theory and art history; literature; feminism; issues concerning race and racism; psychoanalysis; and much more.
• Tutorial support is available throughout the course, and advice is provided both before and after the submission of essays. Staff help students to select subjects for their dissertation, and to develop that subject into a focussed research project.
• The MA includes a research methods module that helps students to improve their skills in independent study, and to develop their dissertation project. This can help to prepare them for doctoral work.
• The course’s elective modules also offers students the opportunity to take MA-level courses from across the School of Humanities. 

Course structure 

The Philosophy and Critical Theory pathway addresses some of the major figures and ideas in post-Enlightenment Western philosophy, and foregrounds the ways in which this material has informed critical social theory. By doing so, it helps students to gain a deeper and more nuanced understanding of contemporary philosophical and theoretical debates.

The Aesthetics and Cultural Theory pathway focusses on art and aesthetics, and on the theoretical dimensions of cultural studies. The first part of the pathway addresses topics such as the nature of beauty, art and the avant-garde; the second part discusses the political dimensions of modern culture.

Students also take a research methods module, which prepares them for this MA’s research project. The project itself normally consists of an 18-20,000 word dissertation (or 12,000 words alongside a video, an installation or studio-based work). Students are guided through their research projects by one-to-one supervision with staff.

In addition, students take two elective modules. These modules can take one of three forms:

• A module from one of our other arts and humanities MA courses
• A Higher Education Teaching and Learning Course in which the student shadows a tutor in the delivery of a module on the undergraduate programme
• A 10,000-word extended essay with regular one-to-one tutorial supervision.

Taught courses are delivered with a maximum size of 12 students. Supervision for the project, and for pre- and post-essay tutorials, is on a one-to-one basis with the appropriate tutor.

Pathway 1 

The Philosophy and Critical Theory pathway

This pathway is composed of two modules, which address some of the major figures and ideas in post-Enlightenment Western philosophy. As a whole, the pathway studies the ways in which this material informed the emergence, development, and subsequent trajectory of German and French critical social theory.

In doing so, it covers a great deal of ground: it begins with the classical liberalism of Smith, Locke, and Hobbes, and closes by looking at the contemporary work of writers such as Žižek and Agamben. It thus provides a broad historical overview of an entire tradition of thought.

Module 1: The Philosophical Foundations of Critical Theory

This module begins by looking at the foundations of British liberalism in the work of Smith, Locke, Hobbes and Hume. It then turns to German idealism, and studies the work of Kant and Hegel. The course then focusses on Marx’s critique of capitalist society, and on early feminist critiques, before turning to Nietzsche and Freud.

Through introducing and discussing this material, the course introduces the central ideas that were taken up by Twentieth Century critical theory. It also offers students the opportunity to study these ideas in their own right.

Module 2: Traditions of Critical Theory

This module builds on the first by continuing to trace some of the major landmarks in Western philosophy, but focusses, primarily, on German and French critical theory. The module begins by looking at Sartre and existentialism, before moving on to address the work of the Frankfurt School. It then turns to some of the seminal figures in Western Marxism – Lukács, Gramsci and Althusser – before addressing structuralism and post-structuralism.

It looks at the way in which such ideas have informed feminist critiques, the work of writers such as Foucault and Derrida, and closes with a consideration of the contemporary work of Badiou, Agamben and Žižek.

Pathway 2 

The Aesthetics and Cultural Theory pathway

The Aesthetics and Cultural Theory pathway is composed of two modules. The first considers a series of key ideas and issues concerning the nature of art and aesthetic judgement, and foregrounds the political dimensions of these topics.

The second module focusses on the politics of culture, and does so by looking at a range of ideas and political perspectives within the field of cultural studies. (Students on the Aesthetics and Cultural Theory pathway are strongly encouraged to attend the core lectures of the Philosophy and Critical theory pathway in addition to those of their own pathway, as this affords greater familiarity with the tradition of thought that informs their chosen material.)

Module 1:Aesthetics and Philosophy

This module introduces and discusses some of the key moments in modern aesthetics. It addresses topics such as: beauty and the concept of the sublime; the grotesque; Surrealism and the unconscious; the nature and role of the avant-garde; feminism; postmodernism and its critics, and postcolonial concerns.

Through doing so, it encourages critical reflection on the relationships between social context, artistic style and philosophy.

Module 2:Cultural Theory

The second module of this pathway considers developments in cultural theory from the last half of the twentieth century to the present day.

It begins by introducing the notion of cultural studies via a discussion of the seminal work of writers such as Williams, Hoggart, Hall and the Birmingham School, before looking at the latter’s work on ‘race’ and racism.

The course then turns to the cultural critique presented by the Frankfurt School, before looking at issues such as: globalisation, hybridity and cultural identity; feminisms; gender studies; semiotics, structuralism and post-structuralism; post-modernism and post-coloniality.

Meet the team

The teaching team includes:

Dr. Tom Bunyard, course leader

Much of Tom Bunyard’s prior research has focussed on the philosophical foundations of the cultural and critical theory produced by Guy Debord and the Situationist International. His current work is centred around contemporary readings of Hegel and new approaches to Marx’s theory of value. Read Tom’s full profile.

Other team members include:

• Mark Devenney
• Nicola Clewer
• Jonathan Gilhooly
• Cathy Bergin
• Clare Woodford
• Victoria Margree
• Anita Rupprecht
• Paul Hopper
• Anthony Leaker
• Toby Lovat
• German Primera.

Student views 

“I am extremely pleased that I studied on the Cultural and Critical Theory MA. The course provided a detailed overview of contemporary philosophy and was very well structured.

The staff were extremely supportive, knowledgeable and always found time to help. The feedback on my essays was been very useful and ensured that the quality of my work improved over the duration of the course.

The skills I have learnt have been beneficial both academically and professionally. I would definitely recommend this course!” Luke

“Broadly speaking, I can confidently say I satisfied with the course. I moved here specifically for this masters degree and although I decided not to stay in Brighton, I do not regret my choice of course at all.

Coming from performance studies background, I have found this course to be just the right fit, a bridge between my interest in contemporary live and fine art and theory and I think it is a well-suitable choice for someone considering moving onto a PhD in the future. …

There are two things I especially appreciate about doing this masters, one is its flexibility and the other being met with really understanding and supportive teaching stuff. I think it’s great we can choose modules from other courses in the humanities. …

Overall, my professors from my undergrad suggested to me that I apply to places that can offer engaging campus culture and can support my learning beyond providing a list of texts to read. I think this programme has a lot to offer on both levels and I am happy I ended up at this MA and not somewhere else.

I have mad respect for how dedicated, as overworked as you may all be, members of this faculty are." Wiktoria

International requirements

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in the fee, while studying a course in the School of Humanities are listed here.

• For a number of courses you will have the opportunity to attend field trips and off-site visits. These are optional and are not required to pass your course but under normal circumstances we would expect a budget of approximately £150 per year will cover the costs of particular trips. The amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.
• You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
• In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget up to £150 per year for printing.
• Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with us for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly. You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

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