Politics, Media and Culture 2016

Politics, Media and Culture Summer School Programme

Course Objectives

A thematic approach

This course oers an integrated study of politics, media and culture. There will be a range of classes
lectures, seminars, advanced English tuition, and smaller workshops. In these, we will investigate,
discuss and debate aspects of British politics, media and cultural output.
Oxford-style teaching

The programme improves your spoken and written English. It is highly participatory, and the teaching
group size is small: you will receive personal attention from world-class academics, and can ask them
questions directly. Student input helps shape these classes; we will expect students to take an active
interest in British politics and media. This method of education, characteristic of Oxford University,
encourages students to take part, ask questions and argue persuasively.
A real student life

Students currently studying at Oxford University will be involved in classes, and will lead a social
programme which will oer students a taste of student life at the college. Fascinating social and cultural activities, including visits to the theatre and trips to London and Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeares birthplace), will immerse you in English language and culture: you really will have the time
of your life.

An historic and beautiful college

You will be living and studying in rooms that been used since 1458. Surrounded by history, you have a unique
opportunity to live in Oxfords most iconic college.

Your tutors
Charlotte Clark (Course designer and tutor)
Charlotte is an experienced teacher and course designer, who has run similar programmes at Oxford University for the
past few years. She is currently working towards her PhD in Shakespeare, at the Shakespeare Institute in Straftordupon-Avon.
Professor Elias Dinas (tutor: Politics)
Elias is a Fellow in Politics at Brasenose College and Associate Professor in Comparative Politics at the Department
of Politics and International Relations, Oxford University. His research interests include Comparative Political Behaviour, Political Socialisation and Political Methodology.
Dr David Rampton (tutor: Politics and International Relations)
David is a Fellow in Global Politics in the Government and IR Departments at LSE (London School of Economics).
His research focuses on the biopolitics of nationalism and the governmental interface between nationalist and
international state-building projects.
Janet Murray (tutor: Journalism)
Janet is a renowned journalist and editor who has written on a range of national newspapers. She is also a lecturer at
the University of London, and an expert on press coverage and public relations.
Benjamin Martill, MPhil (tutor: Politics and International Relations)
Benjamin is Retained Lecturer in International Relations at Wadham College, Oxford University. He currently teaches
courses on international theory, the two World Wars and the Cold War.

Your tutors
Dr Colin Clark (tutor: Language and Literature)
Colin is a literature specialist who recently completed his PhD at Oxford University. He is an experienced tutor who
has taught and lectured in Oxford, Grenoble, Provence and Hokkaido. He has published on French Modernist literature
and is and preparing a book on French poetry.
Rosie Fielding (tutor: Global Shakespeare)
Rosie is an AHRC-funded researcher (PhD) at the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon. Her area of expertise is
global Shakespeare.
Crucial to the teaching, atmosphere and life of the course are the Course Assistants, who spend each day with you
Ben Dobson (course assistant)
Ben recently graduated with a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University. He is now working
for Reform, an inuential political think tank in London.
Ben Davies (course assistant)
Ben is a second-year English Literature student at Oxford University. Before coming to Oxford, he taught English in
China.
Tomas Brown (course assistant)
Tomas is a second-year Philosophy student at Kings College, London. He is editor and founder of the KCL Journal of
Undergraduate Philosophy.

Entering the Old Law Library: one of your seminar rooms at Magdalen

Teaching schedule
Week 1
Date
Monday 29th August

Tuesday 30th August

Wednesday 31st August

Group A
Group B
9.30-12 D
L
9.30-12 D
L
Charlotte & Dr Colin Clark
Charlotte & Dr Colin Clark
Introduction to British media and journalism Introduction to British media and journalism
2-3.30 D

L
Dr David Rampton
Introduction to International Relations (IR)
theory

2-3.30 D

9.30-10.30 D
L
Dr Benjamin Martill
States and Individuals in Global Politics

9.30-10.30 D
L
Dr Benjamin Martill
States and Individuals in Global Politics

11.00-12.30 O L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
States and Individuals in Global Politics
(seminar)

11.00-12.30 D
L
Dr David Rampton
Politics and IR: Critical Theory (seminar)

2.00-3.30 D
L
Dr David Rampton
Politics and IR: Critical Theory (seminar)

2.00-3.30 O L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
States and Individuals in Global Politics
(seminar)

9.15-10.15 D
Class TBC

9.15-10.15 D
Class TBC

10.30-12.00 D
L
Dr David Rampton
Globalisation and World Order (seminar)
2.30-3.00 O L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
Democratisation, Intervention and
Sovereignty (seminar)
Thursday 1st September

L
Dr David Rampton
Introduction to International Relations (IR)
theory

10.30-12.00 O L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
Democratisation, Intervention and
Sovereignty (seminar)
2.30-3.00 D
L
Dr David Rampton
Globalisation and World Order (seminar)

9-10.30 D
L
Dr Colin Clark & Charlotte
Introduction to Literary Analysis

9-10.30 D
L
Dr Colin Clark & Charlotte
Introduction to Literary Analysis

11-12.30 O

L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
Seminar topic TBC

11-12.30 D

2.30-3.00 D
L
Dr David Rampton
Insurgency Movements (seminar)

2-3.30 O

L
Dr David Rampton
Insurgency Movements (seminar)
L L
Dr Benjamin Martill
Seminar topic TBC

Date
Group A
nd
Friday 2 September 9.30-12.00 D
Journalist TBC
Writing workshop

Group B
9.30-12.00 D
Journalist TBC
Writing workshop

1.30-3.00 D
L
Dr Colin Clark
Poetic Form and Meaning (seminar)

1.30-3.00 O L
Charlotte Evans
Play study

3-4.30 O L L
Charlotte Evans
Play study

3.00-4.30 D
L
Dr Colin Clark
Poetic Form and Meaning (seminar)

Week 2
Monday 5th September

Shakespeare Study Day

(Lectures, seminars, and theatre workshops:
lecturers TBC)

Shakespeare Study Day

(Lectures, seminars, and theatre workshops:
lecturers TBC)

Tuesday 6th September

Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon
(Shakespeares birthplace)

Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon
(Shakespeares birthplace)

Wed 7th September

9.30-10.30 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
Attitude Change: The Role of Information,
Context and Political Predispositions

9.30-10.30 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
Attitude Change: The Role of Information, Context and Political Predispositions

Afternoon sessions TBC

Afternoon sessions TBC

Thursday 8th September 9.00-10.00 D

Lecture TBC

10.30-12.00 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
What conditions facilitate attitude change? Is
opinion change possible without new
information?

Friday 9th September

9.00-10.00 D
Lecture TBC

10.30-12.00 O L L
Jan Murray
Journalism in practice: writing workshop

2-3.30 O L L
Jan Murray
Journalism in practice: writing workshop

2-3.30 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
What conditions facilitate attitude change? Is
opinion change possible without new
information?

10.30-12.00 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
Attitudinal Change in Politics (seminar)

10.30-12.00 O L L
Charlotte
Course review and reections

2-3.30 O L L
Charlotte
Course review and reections

2-3.30 D
L
Professor Elias Dinas
Attitudinal Change in Politics (seminar)

*Morning tea break: 10.30-10.45

*Lunch: 12.30-1.15

Formal Halls: a feast in every sense

Oxford has many traditions, one of which is the Formal Hall: once a term - or once a year - Oxford students are invited to have a full gourmet feast in college: this event is called a Formal Hall. Instead of the tasty everyday menu,
students and their teachers share in an opulent feast: gourmet delicacies, beautiful presentation, and a formal setting
and dress are the order of the day.
On your two-week course, you will enjoy *three* Formal Halls, allowing you to try the nest of British cuisine, wear
your nest clothes (suits and dresses are required), and enjoy the atmosphere of an 800-year tradition with your new
friends and teachers.

Social and cultural programme

red deer, Magdalen College gardens

Day

Afternoon (4-5.30pm)

Evening

Saturday

Arrivals and greeting

Welcome and introduction

Sunday

Tour of Oxford
Picnic and punting on the river

Formal Hall dinner (3 courses)

Rounders tournament

Ice-breaker party

Tuesday

Tour: Bodleian library

Wednesday

Croquet tournament

Pub trip: Turf Tavern (oldest pub in

Oxford)

Film night

Thursday

Tour: Magdalen College

Bowling

Friday

Friendly game of football (Oxford

playing elds)

Formal Hall dinner (3 courses)

Disco ice-skating

Trip: Blenheim Palace

(most beautiful palace in England)

Pub quiz

Monday

Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday

Trip: London
BBC tour

Dinner in London
Theatre trip

Afternoon tea

Music event (TBC)

Trip: Stratford-upon-Avon
(Shakespeares birthplace)

Trip: Stratford-upon-Avon

Magdalen College: red deer walk

Optional theatre trip (or free time)

Drinks reception
Gala dinner (4-course Formal Hall)
End-of-course party

Comments from former Politics, Media and Culture course students

I learned more from these two weeks than one year in school! Study is not all about school; the cultural experience is
much more important for me. I fell in love with the country because of you.
Christina Lee, Film Studies, Waseda University
I have learned many things from dierent perspectives; it was great how we got fabulous opportunities to meet guests
that taught us international relations, journalism, and politics.
I enjoyed the social activities that you planned for us as well. I cannot be more satised.
Maiko Oka, Sophia University
It was dazzling!
Eiji Yasuhara, Keio University
This course made me inspired to study more!
Riho Izawa, Poltical Science, Keio University
This course was a really good chance to practice speaking English, because its dicult to do so in Japanese
Universities. So I hope you will keep putting emphasis on debate or discussion.
Yumiko Inaoka, Arts and Science, Tokyo University
There were many things to learn, and the classes were wonderful! As a whole, this programme was amazing!
Momoko Tsuchiya, Public Policy (postgraduate), Tokyo University
Thank you for organising this wonderful summer programme, and for inviting all those brilliant tutors.
Ive made the decision to go to graduate school in the UK!
Linda Lin, International Liberal Studies, Waseda University
This whole experience has been the best two weeks of my life.
Andrew Bibee, English, Sophia University
The experience of watching students make huge gains in condence and subject knowledge over the two weeks is
always a truly special one.
Ben Dobson, Course Assistant

Course requirements

Join the community!

This course is open to students in any year, taking any course. Ideally, you would have an overall TOEFL score of
around 80 iBT or 550 PBT (IELTS 6.0), or equivalent competence in English.

Course cost: 2600

This fee includes:

All classes and tuition

Accommodation (Saturday 27th August - Saturday 10th September: check-in Saturday 27th from 12:00;
check-out from College on Saturday 10th)

Return travel costs between all London airports and Oxford (air travel is not part of the course cost)

All meals (including picnics and cream teas)

Social activities (all scheduled activities are included in the course fee. You might wish to bring spending
money for extra drinks, ice creams, shopping, etc.)

Theatre ticket

3 Formal Halls: haute-cuisine, 3 and 4-course formal gourmet dinners

For further details, or to apply, please contact oxfordsummerschoolsmc@gmail.com

Application deadline: as soon as possible (places are limited), but by 5th August 2016 at the latest.