03857 - General Sociology

Learning outcomes

The Course of General Sociology aims to help you to see and to analyse the main social trends in the 'post'-modern society, and the relevance of sport and exercise for billions of people in the world. A lot of theoretical and empirical tools will be presented, so you will be more able to better understand the dynamics of sport and exercise in the leisure time; the social relevance of Mse-Mega sporting events such as the Olympics, the Paralympics, and the International Football Championships; the politics for health and well-being by an active life, especially for children and elder people; etc.

Course contents

In order to achieve these goals, the Course of General Sociology will present contents, distributed in three parts: the institutional part, the monographic one, and the seminarial one.

 A) In its Institutional Part, the Course of General Sociology will outline the five main approaches to sport and physical activities, which are most frequently used by sociologists today. In addition, paying attention to the methods and techniques of social research, the Course will cover topics such as:

1. Sport and modernity: values, identity and disputes;

2. Sport and community: socialization, communication and deviance;

3. Sports and politics;

4. Sport and social environment.

These topics will be illustrated by case studies, examples and data, which will show that sport is a typical phenomenon of the modern society, and therefore it can be properly understood only with the help of Social Sciences, and of the Sociology, obviously.

 
b) in its Monographic Part the Course will present the exits of the differentiation process in the modern society, and will analyse the reasons of the growing relevance of sport in the free time and leisure activities. The Course will debate the hypothesis that a new social structure is emerging, which stronger links three systems: sport, media, and sponsors, and that it will be a lot of consequences on the people and on the civilization process.
 
c) the aim of the Seminarial part of the Course is to promote the student's cognitive interests, and to show studies and empirical researches in the field of the Sociology of sport and exercise.

Readings/Bibliography

1-2) The General Part & the Monographic One:

One book is required to pass the exam; it is:

Martelli S., Porro N. (2015 2a ed.), Manuale di Sociologia dello sport e dell’attività fisica (Handbook of Sociology of Sport and Exercise), FrancoAngeli, Milano.

This Handbook is the minimum program.

The enlarged program:

You’ll can choise 1 or more books among the following titles:

Porro N., Martelli S., Russo G. (a cura di) (2016), Il Mondiale delle meraviglie (A Championship full of Wonders). La Coppa del Mondo Fifa 1990 e l'Italia 25 anni dopo, FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Martelli S. (2012), Lo sport globale (Global Sports). Le audience televisive di Mondiali di calcio, Olimpiadi e Paralimpiadi invernali (2002-2010), FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Martelli S. (2011), Sport, media e intrattenimento. Emozioni in/controllate e struttura sociale emergente, FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Martelli S. (2010), Lo sport “mediato” (“Mediated” Sports). Le audience televisive di Olimpiadi, Paralimpiadi e Campionati europei di calcio (2000-2008), FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Pioletti A.M., Porro N. (a cura di) (2013), Lo sport degli europei (Sport in Europe). Cittadinanza, attività, motivazioni, FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Grimaldi R. (2011), Valori e modelli nello sport (Values and models in sports). Una ricerca con Stefania Belmondo nelle scuole del Piemonte, FrancoAngeli, Milano (pages 7-235).

If you had an educational debt, you have to fill it studying one book over the Manuale [Handbook of Sociology of Sport and Exercises], chosen from the list below.

If you opted for the enlarged program, you can study one book or more, chosen from the list below, so that you’ll be able to gain 2 bonus and to gain a better (an excellent!) final score.

Teaching methods

Face-to-face lessons slide assisted, and case studies introduced by the new technologies of communications.

Assessment methods

At the exam an Erasmus student will receive a special questionnaire. The test will consist of 5 open questions. The student will fill the spaces offered by the 10 lines, vacated after each question; as well as in Italian language, an Erasmus student can answer in one of the following languages: English, French, Spanish-Castiglian or Catalan. He/She will have no more than 40' to answer.

2 important info.s about the exam:

a) In order to choise the type of program: You had to be present at minimum to the 70% of the 24 lessons (2 hours each one). Presences under this minimum may be integrated by studying one book more than the ones, listed in the minimum program (a third book, chosen between the listed ones). Regular attendence to the lessons is a good practice: so you can pose questions! Briefly, students attending to the lessons will have more chances to gain the exam;

b) In order to be registered to the roll-call: You had to insert your name in the electronic list for the exam within the 5th day before the fixed date. You'll have access to the e-list in the AlmaEsami website, at the url: https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ). Erasmus students may request an earlier review by the day of their departure.

Teaching tools

Slides by Power Point.

Surfing the Internet.

Research outcomes, published by SportComLab- the Laboratory of Sporting Communication, University of Bologna "Alma Mater Studiorum" – see at: : http://www.sportcomlab.edu.unibo.it [http://www.sportcomlab.edu.unibo.it/].

"Posts" sent by SportComLab via FaceBook and Twitter, announcing the theme of the next lesson and other useful news for didactics and exams.

Links to further information

http://sportcomlab.edu.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Martelli