89995 - Sociology of Consumption (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to analyze the new consumption practices and to provide the theoretical knowledge related to consumer behavior in the sociological perspective of Agency to recover the category of "creativity". At the end of the course students: - know in depth the social aspects of the phenomenon of consumption; - have the tools to analyze and understand the practices of consumption in contemporary society, the transformations of the phenomenon of consumption in relation to the processes of globalization, individualization, and empowerment; - have acquired the theoretical and methodological tools to analyze the phenomenon of prosumerism.

Course contents

The course is divided into two modules:

The First Module is concerned with relationship between consumption and globalization and the definition of the current society as a consumer society. In this module will be roughed out the characteristics of global society, with particular attention to the processes of individualization and empowerment. The phenomenon of consumption will therefore be re-read in the light of the synergistic homogenization and heterogeneousness processes, the commodification versus re-signification, the McDonaldiisation versus the indigenization.

The second Module regards "new consumer practices" and the mixing between consumption tactics and power strategies. This module deals with the consumer behavior under a sociological perspective of Agency to recover the category of "creativity", to understand cultural consumption.

Readings/Bibliography

Testi/Bibliografia

Paltrinieri R., Felicità responsabile, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2012

Manzoli G., Paltrinieri R., Welfare Culturale. La dimensione della cultura nei processi di Welfare di comunità, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2021

Schivelbusch W., La vita logorante delle cose, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2019

Teaching methods

Learning will be assessed through individual interview based on the exam reference texts, in order to evaluate both the learning of course content by the student and his analysis and argumentation skills.

Students having an excellent critical and in-depth analysis skills, the ability to link the main issues addressed in the course, the use of appropriate language with respect to the specificity of the discipline, will result in an 'excellent' assessment .

Students having a mnemonic knowledge of the contents, of a discrete critical capacity and connection between the course themes, the use of an appropriate language, will result in an 'discrete' assessment .

A 'sufficient' assessment will be given in case of: formative gaps but, however, capacity to achieve a minimal knowledge on topics the course is focused on; the use of inappropriate language.

A 'negative' assessment will be given in case of: the lack of critical thinking skills, orientation difficulties with respect to the issues addressed in the exam textbooks, formative gaps, the use of inappropriate language

Assessment methods

classes

Teaching tools

computer, video, films

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Paltrinieri