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 first 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 second part of the course focuses 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

Collins, R. (1992) Teorie sociologiche. Bologna: Il Mulino

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

 

Further bibliographical refrences, including the parts of the two volumes to be studied more in depth in order to pass the exam with maximum profit, will be provided in class.

Teaching methods

The course includes lectures, class discussions and presentations by students. Further bibliographic refrences will 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

Teaching tools

Video projector, computer, PowerPoint slides.

Office hours

See the website of Agnese Cretella