Sociology of culture

Academic year: 2010-2011 Course code module 3BSOC-040 Semester: 2nd semester Credits: 6 Study load (hours) 168 Theory (hours): 45,00 Practice/Exercises(hours): Other (hours): Part-time program: 2 Instructor(s) Gert Verschraegen Language of instruction: Dutch Semester exam information: exam in the 2nd semester Contract restriction information: 1. Prerequisites *Algemene competenties No specific prerequisites required. *Sequentiality None 2. Objectives (expected learning outcomes) Knowledge of the principal analytical schemes and paradigms in cultural sociology and ability to apply them.  Insight into the mechanisms of cultural change .   3. Course content The course consists of three parts. Part I reflects upon the concept of culture in sociological discourse and on its broader use withinin society. It also introduces the student into some main tenets of cultural sociology.  Part II gives an overview of the main paradigms and approaches in cultural sociology. By reflecting on some seminal contributions to cultural sociology (and cultural studies more in general) it considers successively: Durkheimian functionalist, interpretative, structuralist and Neo-Marxist approaches to the study of culture. Part III of the course discusses selected themes from current cultural sociology and provides some examples of cultural developments in a number of areas of society: culture and social inequality, race and ethnicity, religion, modernity/modernism, digital culture. 4. Teaching method Direct contact: Lectures Seminars (possible question and answer sessions) Personal work: Assignments - individual Assignments - in group Paper - individual 5. Assessment method Exam: Oral, with written preparation Closed book Continuous assessment: Assignments Written assignment: Without oral presentation 6. Compulsory reading – study material A reader containing texts by, among others, R. Barthes, R. Bellah, P. Bourdieu, M. Douglas, C; Geertz, S. Hall, D. Harvey, W. Sewell, A. Swidler, P. Willis 7. Recommended reading - study material Nihil. 8. Tutoring After class and by appointment. laatste aanpassing: last update: 05/02/2012 17:18 gert.verschraegen