87417 - Sociology Of Culture (A-L)

Learning outcomes

The course investigates the role played by culture in social relations and in institutional processes as well. In particular, culture is analysed such as one of the main resources developed by social groups, people and Nations, that is as the focus on some crucial geopolitical, economic and religious themes that dominate the international debate. At the end of the course, students are able to know the different perspectives outlined by classic authors about the relationship between society and culture. Moreover, they are able to point out and examine the cultural dynamics that are involved in social processes both nationwide and at an international level.

Course contents

The course examines sociology’s major contributions to our understanding of national and international cultural processes. The first part of the course addresses the following topics: The third part of the course will deal with the significance and role of narcisism in modern society; the Positivism and the origins of sociology; the contribution to sociology from classical thinkers such as Comte, Durkheim, Marx, Tocqueville. The second part of the course examines contemporary sociological thinkers and schools of thought: neo-functionalism; the sociology of knowledge; critical theory; Z. Bauman. The third part of the course:  religion, secularisation and society in: M. Weber, H. Joas, R. Spaemann, J. Casanova, U. Beck.

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to: have an analytical and critical understanding of the specific contribution of the different thinkers and schools of thought they have studied; be capable of comparing the contributions of these thinkers and schools of thought with regard to specific questions; be able to identify sociological writers, works and theories that have also had an impact on the study of international relations; have a good understanding of the fundamental problems of social epistemology and ontology (individualism vs. holism; materialism vs. cultural autonomy; realism vs. social constructionism; social order vs. social conflict; cosmopolitanism vs. communitarianism); know the principal approaches to an interpretation of the relationships between culture, society and politics.

Readings/Bibliography

Set books to be read by all students

(1) A. Santambrogio, Introduzione alla sociologia. Le teorie, i concetti, gli autori, Laterza, Roma-Bari, Nuova edizione 2019

(2)  G. Orsina, La democrazia del narcisismo. Breve storia dell'antipolitica, Marsilio, 2018

3) H. Joas-R. Spaemann, Pregare nella nebbia. La fede ha un futuro?, Morcelliana, 2019

Book to be chosen by the student.

(4) Students sitting the oral exam must choose one book from the following list.

1) M. Graziano, Guerra santa e santa alleanza. Religioni e disordine internazionale nel XXI secolo, il Mulino, Bologna, 2014.

2) M. Scheler, L'idea di pace perpetua e il pacifismo, Mimesis, 2016.

3) M. Lacroix, Il culto dell'emozione, Vita e Pensiero, Milano, 2006.

4) Sicurezza globale. Le nuove minacce, a cura di P. Foradori e G. Giacomello, Il Mulino, 2014.

Teaching methods

Teaching shall take the form of lectures.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods

Examinations for attending students

There shall be three written exams held mid-term, regarding books (1)(2)(3), as well as students’ lecture notes; an oral exam shall then be held regarding book (4), and this shall take place during the winter exam session or during the exam session to be held in September 2018.

The first intermediate written exam will be held in mid-October, and the second in mid-November, and the third in mid-December. Each intermediate written exam shall consist of 8 essay questions, and students will have 55 minutes to do the exam. Marks are out of 30, and the pass mark is 18. Only those students who have sat and passed all three intermediate exams may sit the oral exam.

The three written exams are designed to assess students’ knowledge (and comparative understanding) of the writers, the sociological models and the topics presented during the course.

The oral exam shall regard a book chosen by the student from among those listed in (4).

Refusal of a mark given for a written exam

Those students who have passed all three intermediate exams, may only refuse to accept the mark given for one of the three exams, and thus re-set the exam (consisting, as usual, of 8 questions in 50 minutes) during a winter exam session or during the session to be held in September 2018.

Exam for non-attending students

Those students not attending the course can sit a written exam on books (1) (2) (3), and an oral exam on books (4). The written and oral exams shalll be held during the winter exam session or during the September 2019 exam session. The written exam consists of 15 questions to be answered in 100 minutes. Those students who do not sit the intermediate exams, or who are absent at two of the intermediate exams, or who do not pass two of the intermediate exams, shall be deemed as “non-attending students”: such students can sit an exam during the winter exam session or during the September 2019 exam session.

 

The topics dealt with in the first intermediate exam are: Capp. 1  G. Orsina   (9-49), La democrazia del narcisismo; the foundations of sociology; Comte,Marx,Tocqueville To prepare for this exam, students are required to read text book no. 1 (those chapters on other thinkers) and the lecture notes.

The topics dealt with in the second intermediate exam are: Durkheim, Weber;  la teoria critica, Parsons, Bauman,  "Comprendere tangentopoli".  To prepare for this exam, students are required to read text book no. 1 (those chapters on other thinkers/schools of thought),  the lecture notes and cap. 2° of G. Orsina, La democrazia del narcisismo   (pp. 51-107)  

The topics dealt with in the third intermediate exam are:

Sociology of knowledge (M. Scheler and K. Mannheim); Casanova, Beck; H. Joas, R. Spaemann e and weberian problem of secularisation. Chap. corresponding of book (1) and book (3) the corresponding lecture notes.  G. Orsina: cap. 3°  (109-175).

The three written exams are designed to assess students’ (and comparative understanding) of the writers, the sociological models and the topics presented during the course.

The oral exam shall regard a book chosen by the student from among those listed in (4).

Exam for non-attending students

Those students not attending the course can sit a written exam on books (1) (2) (3) and an oral exam on books (1) (2) (3) (4). The written and oral exams shall be held during the winter exam session or during the September 2018 exam session. The written exam consists of 15 questions to be answered in 100 minutes. Those students who do not sit the intermediate exams, or who are absent at two of the intermediate exams, or who do not pass two of the intermediate exams, shall be deemed as “non-attending students”: such students can sit an exam during the winter exam session or during the September 2018 exam session.

Tutorial course

Student workers, students who have to pass one or more of the assigned exams, and ERASMUS students, are invited to attend the tutorial course lessons and to sit the exam as indicated by the tutor.

Teaching tools

 

Slides

Office hours

See the website of Leonardo Allodi