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Stories, Narratives and Culture

Code 18225
Year 1
Semester L0
ECTS Credits 6
Workload O (123H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area Sociology
Entry requirements None
Learning outcomes Students will be able to identify and deconstruct the fundamental elements of storytelling—such as plot, character archetypes, and perspective—across various media (literature, film, oral traditions, and digital media); students will analyse how cultural values, ideologies, and historical contexts shape narratives, and conversely, how stories influence societal norms and collective identity; students will apply major narrative theories (e.g., Structuralism, Narratology, Phenomenology) to critique specific cultural "texts" and explain their significance in a globalized world; students will demonstrate an ability to craft compelling narratives that utilize specific cultural tropes or challenge existing storytelling conventions to communicate complex ideas.
Syllabus Part 1: The Architecture of Story 1. The Hero’s Journey & Monomyth 2. Plot and Perspective 3. Symbolism and Semiotics Part 2: Myth, Identity, and National Narratives 1. Foundational Myths 2. Oral Traditions vs. Written History 3. Identity and Representation Part 3: Digital Narratives and Future Cultures 1. Transmedia Storytelling 2. The "Algorithm" as Narrator 3. Participatory Culture
Main Bibliography Bal, M. (2017). Narratology: Introduction to the Theory of Narrative (4th ed.). University of Toronto Press. Bruner, J. (1990). Acts of Meaning. Harvard University Press. Campbell, J. (2008). The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New World Library. Garrett, M. (Ed.). (2018). The Cambridge Companion to Narrative Theory. Cambridge University Press. Frank, A. W. (2010). Letting Stories Breathe: A Socio-narratology. University of Chicago Press Ryan, M.-L., & Thon, J.-N. (Eds.). (2014). Storyworlds across Media: Toward a Transmedial Narratology. University of Nebraska Press.
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria Case Study: Students shall analyse a current cultural phenomenon in a written essay. Narrative Lab: Students shall write short piece using specific cultural "voices" during the classes.
Language Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
Last updated on: 2026-05-12

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