12661 - Sociology of Communication (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the student has acquired the basic skills necessary to analyse the different forms of communication present in contemporary social spaces. They will be able to grasp differences and similarities between types of interaction (e.g. face-to-face or remote) as well as to understand unequal opportunities in accessing communication practices.

Course contents

The course aims to prepare students on the main sociological theories in the field of communication.

To this end, the course focuses on deepening the students’ knowledge on the classics in the field in order to become familiar with sociological thought and its language, through the use of the manual Teorie sociologiche (Collins, R., 1992, Bologna: Il Mulino). The course focuses as well on the more recent research related to the social transformations introduced by internet and digital media, with the help of the volume Sociologia dei media (Riva C., Ciofalo G., Degli Esposti P., Stella R., 2022, Utet, Torino).

Thanks to the acquisition of sociological knowledge, the students will learn the origin and use of different communication systems. This will allow them to critically analyse the dynamics that govern contemporary communication landscapes, also through the evaluation of empirical cases.

Readings/Bibliography

Riva C., Ciofalo G., Degli Esposti P., Stella R. (2022). Sociologia dei media. Utet, Torino. [Intero volume]

The following pages from one of the two editions of the manual Teorie Sociologiche:

Collins, R. (2006) Teorie sociologiche. Bologna: Il Mulino. [Pagine: 15-19; 357-372; 382-383; 74-81; 183-194; 313-328; 231-242; 202-208; 269-280].

Collins, R. (1992) Teorie sociologiche. Bologna: Il Mulino. [Pagine 15-20; 469-485; 496-497; 76+79-84; 237-249; 423-438; 289-301; 257-263; 331-343].

Further bibliographical refrences will be provided in class.

For non-attending students:

One of the two editions, either in Italian or English, of the volume:

- Erving Goffman, Rappresentazioni di genere. A cura di Angelo Romeo, postfazione di Vanni Codeluppi, Mimesis, 2015.

- Erving Goffman, Gender advertisements, London, Macmillan, 1985 or subsequent reprints.

It is also recommended to consult the educational resources available on Virtuale.

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures, class discussions and presentations by students. Further bibliographic refrences could be provided for more in-depth study of selected topics and for the analysis of empirical cases.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an oral examination. The exam aims to verify:

1) the ability to recognize the sociological theories addressed during the course and in relation to bibliographic references;

2) analytical and critical skills developed;

3) the level of appropriation of the course content and its application to empirical cases

 

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special accommodations according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the teacher but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adaptations. For more information, visit the page:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students

Teaching tools

Video projector, computer, PowerPoint slides.

Office hours

See the website of Agnese Cretella