Explores the importance and impact of popular culture in our everyday lives. Our daily lives are saturated with popular culture, making it an important area of study. Popular culture both reinforces and challenges existing power structures and inequalities. We will look at the social dimensions of cultural production, consumption, regulation, and representation. We will also focus on a wide range of topics such as critical theory, culture industries, status and privilege, controlling images, the body, censorship, gender, and globalization. We will discuss what popular culture tells us about ourselves, our history, and our society.

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing.

4

Units

Optional

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

Upper division only

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
These majors only soc
BRIDGES T S
Tristan Bridges
4.6
30 reviews
TOBER T L
Tara Tober
4.5
130 reviews
AI predicted, based on past grading trends of the course and instructor, class info, and 127 other factors
Winter 2026 . Bridges T S Tober T L Avila M F Tam C W
GIRV 1004
T R
12:30 PM - 13:45 PM
SOC 118PC Bridges T S Winter 2026 Total: 180
See All
160
4.55
SOC154A . Bridges T S 4 Months Ago

LOVE! He made class fun to go to and super engaging. I always knew the best way to be prepared for class and the exams. I would definitely take Professor Bridges again!

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
SOC185C . Tober T L 4 Months Ago

This was my second time taking Professor Tober. One midterm, one final, and several in-class activities. Would definitely take again. Quick to answer emails.

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SOC118CM . Tober T L 4 Months Ago

The course material was engaging and digestible including the structure (slides, videos, articles) and weekly group assignments. In addition, discussion was open and there was a reciprocity in her responses that felt sincere. Be wary of where you sit first week because that'll comprise your group. She made discussion feel open and grading was fair.

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SOC154A . Bridges T S 4 Months Ago

Take a course with Dr. B. I feel like it's cheesy to say, but it will change your life. I took Families and his privilege course. Both were so good. It's clear he cares about students, the requirements are super clear, and he's just the best lecturer at UCSB. Seriously. THE BEST!!!

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SOC118CM . Tober T L 4 Months Ago

Tober is sweet and lectures well. She clearly knows her stuff and delivers material intriguingly while promoting student engagement. She assigns two essays and a final. She does weekly group assignments that are great for engaging with the material, but you stay with the same group all quarter, so be mindful of where you sit during the first week.

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SOC154A . Bridges T S 4 Months Ago

A great professor with detailed and quality-built lectures. He's attentive to your needs and flexible with assignments. One giant interview project, mixed with a midterm and final exam. Weekly textbook and lecture-based quizzes. This class keeps you pretty busy, but it should be manageable as deadlines are sequenced fairly, so you won't cram.

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