Surname: …

Initials: …
Student Number: …
Date of submission: …

SOCY111

Assignment 2

The commercialisation of culture

Lecturers: G. Monyatsi
Ms Z. Mohulatsi
1. INTRODUCTION

What will you discuss? How will you discuss it?

2. DEFINING CULTURE

Define what is meant by culture. The usage of different definitions is welcome, and more
importantly, explain what the definition(s) means and provide examples.

3. DISCUSSING THE COMMERCIALISATION OF CULTURE

Define and discuss what is meant by the commercialisation of culture. In this discussion,
include examples of this phenomenon as discussed by various authors and the impact on
societies or cultural groups.

4. THE COMMERCIALISATION OF CULTURE ON MAINSTREAM

MEDIA

Having defined and discussed the commercialisation of culture – now identify a particular media
product such as movie, television show, song/music video, news bullet or newspaper article
where a specific cultural form is depicted. Explain what the product entails, which cultural form
is depicted, and the owners of the product (producers, sellers, etc.).

5. APPLYING THE DISCUSSION OF THE COMMERCIALISATION OF

CULTURE TO THE {insert the name of show, movie, article, etc.,
discussed above}

Having defined and discussed the commercialisation of culture and the media product of your
choice – now provide a critique of the media product or producers of the product, in the case of
a news item or article, the critique will not be based on the channel or publication but on the
producers/sellers of the product written about or reported on. In essence, here you are
answering the question about the challenges of the commercialisation of culture. This
discussion should be linked to the discussion on point 3 above. In other words, you do not need
to introduce new sources here, refer to the sources you cited on point 3. In the critique, you
should just state the problems associated with how the cultural form discussed in point 4 is
portrayed or used. You may place emphasis on the benefit or lack thereof, for the owners of the
culture, how the cultural form is portrayed, products used, impact on societies’ views of the
cultural group portrayed, etc.

5. CONCLUSION

What have you discussed in your essay? What is your main conclusion?
LIST OF REFERENCES

List ALL of the sources you used in your essay. Refer to the NWU Referencing Guidelines.

DO NOT: Use bullet points or numbering.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO: List these sources ALPHABETICALLY according to the
SURNAMES of the academics you cited.
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

I ___________________________________________________________________________
(full name and surname and student number) hereby declare that this assignment / paper /
project / portfolio is my own work.

I further declare that:

1. the text and bibliography reflect the sources I have consulted, and
2. where I have made reproductions of any literary or graphic work(s) from someone else, I
have obtained the necessary prior written approval of the relevant
author(s)/publisher(s)/creator(s) of such works and/or, where applicable, from the
Dramatic, Artistic and Literary Rights Organisation (DALRO).
3. sections with no source referrals are my own ideas, arguments and/or conclusions.

Signature: ____________________________

Student number: ____________________________

Date: __________________________