17270 - Sociology Of Culture And Communication (A-E)

Learning outcomes

Students can learn the basic notions of sociological theories and empirical research about culture and cultural consumption. It aims at developing the competences required to read the changes in cultural life and carry out field research in a proper sociological way. At the end of the course, the student should be able to understand the cultural processes, their role in the social life, and the characteristics of cultural consumption, including the old and new media.

Course contents

The course has 2 parts.

The first part provides the student a basic knowledge of the main theories and empirical research in the sociology of culture and communication:

- Concept(s) of culture
- Relationships between culture and society
- Culture and cultural practices
- How cultural objects work
- Examples from empirical researches

The second part focuses on cultural consumption, included media and new media:

- meaning of "cultural consumption"
- the rise of the consumption and mass society; high culture /popular culture; audiences studies
- cultural consumption and lifestyles
- cultural consumption and globalisation in the social media era

Readings/Bibliography

1) W. Griswold, Sociologia della cultura, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005

2) P.P. Giglioli, "Da Parsons a Ricœur passando per Bali: note sul concetto di cultura in Geertz", in Aut Aut, 335, pp. 37-55

II part:

1) S. Capecchi, L'audience attiva, Roma, Carocci, 2015
(solo pp. 67-95, 134-154, 159-161, 174-196, 251-266; ovvero: nel capitolo 2: paragrafo 2.2.2.; scheda 2.4, par. 2.3. 2.4; scheda 2.5, par. 2.6, 2.7, scheda 2.9; nel capitolo 3: schede 3.1 e 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.2.2; nel capitolo 4:scheda 4.2, par. 4.2)

2) Raccolta a cura della docente di saggi di autori vari: Il consumo culturale: dialettica tra processi di distinzione e di omologazione

Teaching methods

Lectures and discussion.

Students can also address to the tutor of the course (we will update the information)

Assessment methods

Written exam (open-ended questions and multiple choice question) about the suggested readings.

Erasmus+ and internationals students who attend the lectures can agree with the teachers a different written option.

Teaching tools

Slides and video, and eventually social media discussion platform.

Students can also address to the tutor of the course: information to update.

Office hours

See the website of Pina Lalli

See the website of Saveria Capecchi