SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE

According to the Dublin descriptors, students, at the end of the course, will demonstrate:

1. knowledge of the main classical and contemporary sociological theories on culture. Special emphasis will be placed on the perspective of symbolic interactionism and other sociological approaches emphasizing sense-making processes

2. sociological sensitivity and analytical skills for approaching cultural phenomena. Specific focus will be placed on interpretive and constructivist sociological paradigms

3. learning skills necessary to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy

Two ways of looking at culture: Social Sciences and Humanities.

Classical theories: Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel. Conflictualist

perspectives (Bourdieu). Structural-functionalist perspectives (Parsons, Merton, Alexander).

Symbolic Interactionism (Mead, Blumer, Becker, Denzin).

Subcultures and Social Worlds.

Constructing a social problem.

Studying cultures empirically: basic outlines of qualitative methodology.

Ethnography and participant observation; open-ended interviews; personal documents: biographies, autobiographies, life histories.

Culture and identity: the social construction of Self

Primary socialization, secondary socialization, re-socialization, significant

others, and reference groups. Maintenance and transformation of subjective reality. Internalization and social structure.

Testi:

- W. Griswold, Sociologia della cultura, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2005, pp. 234.
- P. Corbetta, La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche. Volume III. Le tecniche qualitative, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2015, pp. 176.
- H. S. Becker, Outsiders, Milano, Meltemi, 2017, cap. 5-6, pp. 69-96 (disponibile su Studium).
- R. Perrotta, G. Toscano, Osservare, immaginare e scrivere. Riflessioni sulla relazione tra sociologia e letteratura, Kurumuny, Calimera,   2018, pp. 141.
- P. Berger, T. Luckmann, La realtà come costruzione sociale, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1969, cap. 3, pp. 179-247.

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.