17270 - Sociology of Cultural and Communication Processes

Learning outcomes

The course centres on the concept of culture, on the changes that such a concept undergoes with the development of mass media and the so-called information society and on the functions that it takes on in the socio-political dynamics of the so-called global society. By the end of the course students will know the main theories of communication and their influence on culture in general and political culture in particular. They also will be able to find their way around the ritual forms and symbolic uses of politics in today's global society.

Course contents

The course is divided into a general section and a specialisation section.  The general section will centre on the concept of culture, the changes that this concept has undergone with the spread of mass media and its role in the socio-political dynamics of the so-called global society.  The monographic section instead will centre on Juergen Habermas' theory of communicative action and Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems as paradigmatic (and antithetical) representations of a society where communication seems to have increasingly become the structural element of society itself.

Readings/Bibliography

For the general section:

S. Belardinelli, Cultura, in S. Belardinelli, L. Allodi (a cura di), Sociologia della cultura, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2005, pp. 11-25.

G. Simmel, Concetto e tragedia della cultura, in Id., Arte e civiltà, Isedi, Milano, 1976, pp. 83-109.

D. McQuail, Sociologia dei media, il Mulino, Bologna (capp. I, II, V, XI, XVI, XVII).

For the specialisation section:

S. Belardinelli, Agire comunicativo e complessità sociale, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 1996.

Together with the professor, students will also select a text by J. Habermas and N. Luhmann to read.

Assessment methods

There will be a written examination. Alternatively students may also choose if they wish to take an oral exam.

Office hours

See the website of Sergio Belardinelli