Course content.
There is more to pop culture than just mainstream and commerce. In the course of globalisation, “pop” has become more pluralistic and has developed internal avant-gardists with diverse interfaces to politics, art and science. Pop cultures characterize social change and are one of the most important platforms for transcultural exchange – only rarely do different cultures meet as naturally as in pop. Typical pop events (e.g. concerts, raves, performances) always encompass several disciplines, media and technologies. They merge art, music, fashion, theatre, scenography, dramaturgy, performance, design and film into a comprehensive event.

In the “Global Pop Cultures and Event Practices” minor, you will specialize in the field of pop events and bring your own background to the table – everything is possible, from design, curation, journalism and production to performance art, theatre, music and visual arts. At the centre of your minor studies are two pop events whose formats, content, programming and aesthetics you develop and implement with other students in multidisciplinary groups and with the support of lecturers. The practical work is accompanied by inputs on the theory and history of global pop cultures.

The minor “Global Pop Culture and Event Practices” offers you an open field of experimentation for the transformation of pop cultural trends into various audience and performance formats. You will not only take on responsibility as an author, but also as an event organizer, allowing you to expand your creative, artistic, performative or curatorial practice.

Skills acquired in the course.
Students learn:
–  the cooperative conception and production of an event and its sub-elements (performances, performances etc.) with all its milestones from conception to realization to evaluation.
–  to express yourself on the emergence and development of global pop cultures in spoken and written form and to make pop theories productive for your own artistic or creative practice.
–  Basic skills in event conception, trend research, dramaturgy, storytelling, performance, production management, social media communication, marketing, etc. 
–  to critically reflect on and further develop your own artistic, creative or performative practice.
–  to take on (artistic/production) authorship and responsibility towards an audience of an event

Admissions requirements.
The minor “Global Pop Cultures and Event Practices” is suitable for all ZHdK students who are interested in live productions, performances, concerts, clubbing, etc. You will benefit from these special features.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–  German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–  German or English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–  German and English: to understand a text
–  German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
In the minor programme, you have the opportunity to experiment and organize two pop events in the Toni Areal or at external locations, both individually and in group projects. Our goal is to combine accessible and avant-garde, entertaining and sophisticated elements. Your mentors will support you with their expertise in areas such as event creation, trend research, theatre, event and production management, curation, pop theory, and performance art. Excursions to various types of events and insights from event practice (e.g., project management, public relations) complement the curriculum.

→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.