76041 - Sociology

Learning outcomes

The course will introduce students to examine the sociological dimension of culture, with particular reference to the issue related to complexity in the contemporary society.

Course contents

The aim of the course is to describe and to analyse the different theories about the sociology of culture, with particular reference to the relationship between media and power, the role of consumption and marketing, and the wider process of globalisation. At the end of the course, the student will know the main paradigms to understand the transformation of the global media industry by the revolution in communication technologies, the tools to analyze the cultural industries and the different aspect of consumer's culture.

Readings/Bibliography

Degli Esposti P. (2015), Essere prosumer nella società digitale. Produzione e consumo tra atomi e bit, Franco Angeli, Milano.

Readings will be assigned during the semester.

Teaching methods

A mix of lectures, seminars, collective discussion, student's presentations, documentaries and films on the issues of consumption, prosumption and advertising.

Assessment methods

Grades are based on a final discussion of the programme.

For the students who attend the course, the assessment will consider the participation during class discussion (40%) and the elaboration of one short final paper (60%).

Non attending students have to discuss with the teacher the books and the reading material during an oral exam.

Teaching tools

Papers, films and documentaries, web sites, Pc.

Office hours

See the website of Piergiorgio Degli Esposti