72514 - Sociology of Culture (1)

Learning outcomes

This course includes three key sections. The first section offers an overview of the major concepts and approaches that set apart the sociology of culture, while the second section introduces students to theories and examples regarding contemporary cultural production. The third section will deepen students’ understanding of the body of knowledge acquired in the first part of the course by focusing on readings, examples and case studies related to sociological research on photography.

Course contents

This course includes two key sections. The first section offers an overview of the major concepts and approaches that set apart the sociology of culture, while the second section introduces students to theories and examples regarding contemporary cultural production and consumption.

1. Culture and society: Theoretical definitions and approaches

The first section includes five frontal lectures covering different sociological approaches to the concept of culture and its relationship with a range of social processes, structures and identities. Through a selection of classic and contemporary readings, this section introduces students to a range of contrasting frameworks, with a particular emphasis on the production and consumption of cultural objects. Students will acquire the interpretive instruments that they will need to understand and examine specific cultural phenomena in relation to practices and meanings.

2. Cultural production: Processes, institutions, meanings

The second section includes four frontal lectures covering major issues and themes regarding cultural production, specifically in the context of globalization processes tied to digital media and popular culture flows. Students will gain knowledge on the role of cultural and creative industries in contemporary society. Furthermore, they will be able to apply sociological concepts to an analysis of the relationship between institutions and meanings in cultural production and consumption.

Readings/Bibliography

1) Griswold Wendy, Sociologia della cultura, il Mulino, 2005.

2) Manzoli G., Paltrinieri R., Welfare culturale, La dimensione della cultura nei processi di Welfare culturale, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2021

3) R. Shusterman. Estetica pragmatista, ed. it. a cura di G. Matteucci, Aesthetica Edizioni, Palermo 2010 (solo pp. 121-152: capitolo "Forma e Funk: la sfida estetica dell'arte popolare").

 

The course plan may be amended up until the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures; Seminar-style discussions; Individual and group activities on the themes, examples and case studies presented during lectures.

Assessment methods

An oral exam.The exam questions will evaluate: 1) students' understanding of the course readings' key themes and arguments; 2) students' ability to critically engage with the theoretical concepts and approaches introduced during lectures, also by applying them to the examples and case studies included in course materials; 3) students' ability to use sociological language appropriately.

Teaching tools

Lecture slides will be made available to students through the virtuale.unibo.it plaftorm. Lectures will be used to explain the readings that will be included in the exam in depth. There will also be an opportunity to apply key concepts to practical examples and additional materials will be made available in the context of individual and group activities.

 

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Paltrinieri