00905 - Sociology (F-N)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, a student: - has a basic knowledge of Sociology (its origins, its main paradigms, theories, methods and topics); - has some analytical tools for an adequate comprehension of contemporary social phenomena (such as globalization and modernity).

Course contents

The course is organized in lectures and seminars, as detailed in the following program. Lectures (28 hours in remote on MS TEAMS) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. Seminars aim to provide occasions for in-depth discussions of class materials and exercises. The division into lessons and seminars is specified in the program that follows. For the seminar section, students will be divided into 4 groups according to their preferences and according to rules concerning the current pandemic emergency: two groups will do the seminar in classroom (16 hours) and two groups will do the seminar remotely on MS TEAMS (16 hours). Therefore, a total of 44 classroom hours are scheduled for each student. Students are required to carefully read the assigned material before the session and - in the case of seminars - active participation through presentations of existing scholarship and case studies will also be expected. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to follow the lessons of the entire course remotely on MS TEAMS.

Introduction and explanation of main sociological approaches, with specific reference to some classical authors and theories. Illustration of the theoretical, methodological and epistemological debate based on the necessity to introduce new approaches in order to cross the dichotomic distinctions which affected sociology in modernity (agency/structure; micro/macro; quality/quantity; individualism/collectivism). A specific attention will be paid on those phenomena which define the transformation of society, such as Modernity.

Readings/Bibliography

First part. The Construction of Sociology.

1) Jean-Michel Berthelot, 2008, La costruzione della sociologia, Bologna, il Mulino. 2) Darren O'Byrne, 2017 Sociologia. Fondamenti e teorie, Milano, Pearson (only chapters 1, 3, 4, 10 such as Introduction, Functionalism, Theory of conflict and Conclusion). 3) Gianfranco Poggi, Giuseppe Sciortino, 2008, Incontri con il pensiero sociologico, Bologna, il Mulino.

Second part. Sociology as a Modern Science.
(ONE OF THIS FOUR SOLUTIONS/PATHWAYS):


1. Social Exclusion and conceptual characters:
Erving Goffman, 2003, Stigma, Verona, Ombre corte. Michel Foucault, 2009, La vita degli uomini infami, Bologna, il Mulino.

2. Hard Boyled Literature as a critic of Modernity:
Philippe Corcuff, 2017, Romanzo poliziesco, filosofia e critica sociale, Milano-Udine, Mimesis.
Luca Martignani, 2018, Realismo sovversivo. Sociologia del genere noir, Verona, Ombre corte.

3. Sexual and Gender Identity in Modernity:
Harold Garfinkel, 2005, Agnese, Roma, Armando. Pierre Bourdieu, 1998, Il dominio maschile, Milano, Feltrinelli.

4. Global Terrorism as a perversion of Modernity:
Alessandro Orsini, 2010, Anatomia delle brigate rosse, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino.
Donatella Di Cesare, 2017, Terrore e modernità, Torino, Einaudi.

Teaching methods

Lessons and seminars.
Exercises on specific approaches.

Assessment methods

Written examination (test). For students who will follow the lessons an intermediate test and a final proof will be fixed. Students who will not follow the lessons should study the same texts and will undergo a final written examination in the established days.

Teaching tools

Lessons and seminars.
Audio-visual tools and power point presentations (slides).
Bibliographical References and conceptual maps.

Office hours

See the website of Luca Martignani

See the website of Riccardo Prandini

See the website of Roberto Rizza

See the website of Elena Macchioni

See the website of Paola Canestrini