Sociology of Culture
Code
711081030
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Sociologia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
José Alberto Simões
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding of different sociological notions of culture;
2. Ability to reflect about problems related with the cultural sphere (both narrow and broadly speaking);
3. Knowledge and understanding of the perspectives and theoretical problems that arise from a multidimensional analysis of the cultural sphere, thus confirming the complexity of cultural practices and phenomena analyzed;
4. Ability to equate, research and describe diversified aspects of social phenomena, by using different acceptions of the concept of culture.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1. What do we talk about when we talk about culture?
1.1. Definitions of culture: between art and anthropology
1.2. Segmentation and hierarquization: the levels of culture
1.3. Flux, hybridism and mobility
2. Problems and perspectives
2.1. Mass culture
2.2. Culture and post-modernity
2.3. Culture and cultural globalization
2.4. Visual culture
2.5. Cultures and youth subcultures
3. Research objects
3.1. Graffiti, street art, urban culture and cultural production
3.2. Television and cultural reception
3.3. Internet, digital culture and cultural practices
Bibliography
Appadurai, A. (2004). Dimensões culturais da globalização. Lisboa: Teorema.
Cuche, D. (2010)- La notion de culture dans les sciences sociales. Paris: La Découverte.
Gelder, K. & Thornton, S. (org.) (1997). The subcultures reader. Londres: Routledge.
Hannerz, U. (1997). Fluxos, fronteiras, híbridos: Palavras-chave da antropologia transnacional, MANA: Estudos de Antropologia Social, 3 (1), pp. 7-39.
Mirzoeff, N. (1999). An introduction to visual culture. Londres: Routledge.
Pais, J.M. (1993). Culturas juvenis. Lisboa: IN-CM.
Storey, J. (1997), An introduction to cultural theory and popular culture. Londres: Prentice Hall/Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Thompson, J. (1999). Ideologia e cultura moderna. Petrópolis: Vozes.
Thompson, J. (1998). A mídia e a modernidade: Uma teoria social da mídia. Petrópolis: Vozes.
Waters, M. (1999). Globalização. Oeiras: Celta Editora.
Williams, R. (1994). Sociología de la cultura. Barcelona: Paidós.
Teaching method
Theoretical lectures (40%);
Practical classwork (60%): exploration of examples and exercise solving; discussion and correction of the students´ exercises; oral presentation and discussion of ongoing students´ work.
Evaluation method
Individual test - individually written in class, based on subjects discussed in classes (80%);
One written essay by a group of students (20%). This essay must be presented and discussed orally in class.