09660 - Sociology of Culture (O-Z)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide an analytical and comparative definition of cultural sociology, proposing to the student the learning and use of a specific model of interpretation, applied (and applicable) to the analysis of cultural objects. At the end of the course the student will be able to - clearly distinguish between sociology of culture and cultural sociology; - analyze and understand social phenomena as 'cultural objects'; - apply a model of cultural analysis to different social processes and structures.

Course contents

The course adopts a teaching method which is organized in two different sections.

The first COMMON section consists of lectures (16 lessons + 1 intermediate exam for 34 total hours) and it aims at introducing the students to the acquisition of basic conceptual and theoretical tools. The second section consists of seminars (7 lessons for 14 total hours) and it aims at deepening the learned knowledge and applying it.

As regards the second section, the students will be divided into 3 groups each of which will take only one lesson per week, thus having time to prepare for the next lesson. Students are required to attend the class having already read and studied the assigned material. Based on the individual readings of each student, an active participation will be required for the realization of thematic insights or the analysis of case studies.

Readings/Bibliography

Common section:

1) Niklas Luhmann, La realtà dei mass media, Milano, FrancoAngeli (ultima edizione)

 

Seminars:

Two essays per seminar will be indicated and distributed for study.

Teaching methods

In the COMMON part of the course (the first 16 lessons), the professor will present the contents of the text to be studied, stimulating the critical participation of the students.

Afterwards, for each of the 7 seminars, the Professor will prepare: 1) a short test with questions on the scheduled texts that everyone will have to finish in about 10 minutes; 2) then a few students will be chosen to present the texts and lead the class discussion.

Assessment methods

The course is evaluated in a different but appropriate way for attending and non-attending students.

1) NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS will take a written test in the winter exam sessions (January-February).

The written test will last 1 hour and 30 minutes and will focus on  open questions regarding the contents of the textbook and of the 14 essays.

2) ATTENDING STUDENTS.

Attending students are students who:

1) will take the INTERMEDIATE TEST at the end of October and

2) WILL PARTICIPATE IN ALL 7 SEMINARS by handing in the test each time and will participate in the class discussion.

Both the INTERMEDIATE TEST and the tests of the 7 SEMINARS will be assigned a grade in thirty.

Finally, students must submit, BY 15 JANUARY 2023, a 10-page PAPER on one of the topics presented in the seminar and with a bibliography of at least 5 references. The essay can be prepared at home and sent by e-mail.

Those who obtain the marks for the midterm, the seminar tests and the paper will be able to have their work verbalised by FEBRUARY 2023.

WARNING!

Who does NOT ACCEPT the vote of the intermediate test (October) CAN NOT ATTEND THE SEMINARS and MUST GIVE THE FINAL AND FULL EXAM in the examination sessions.

Who does NOT ACCEPT the vote of the tests and of the final paper MUST GIVE THE FINAL AND FULL EXAM in the examination sessions.

All written tests (the intermediate exam, the final paper, and the exam for non-attending students) will be assessed as follows:

The purpose of the written test is investigating the students’ ability to apply the notions and knowledge which she has learned, and to make the necessary logical-deductive links. The decision of the final grade takes place on the basis of the following criteria:

• Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and achievement of a very limited ability to analyze and interpret, but both expressed in a correct language conceptually and terminologically: grade 18-19;
• Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and achievement of the ability to analyse and interpret autonomously only pure notional issues, expressed in correct language: grade 20-24;
• Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, together with the ability to carry out independent and critical analyses and interpretations, with a good command of specific lexicon and concepts: grade 25-29;
• Substantially exhaustive preparation on the topics addressed in the course, with the ability to carry out independent, well-argued, critical and original analyses and interpretations, together with a full mastery of specific lexicon and concepts: grade 30-30L.

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Prandini

See the website of Gianluca Maestri

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