Sociology of Cultural Processes (i) (2008/2009)

Course not running

Course code
4S01248
Name of lecturer
Emmanuele Morandi
Number of ECTS credits allocated
3
Academic sector
SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION
Language of instruction
Italian
Location
VERONA
Period
Secondo semestre dal Feb 23, 2009 al May 30, 2009.

Lesson timetable

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is the acquisition of the basic concepts through which the sociological Knowledge has developed. To get to the understanding of reality and of the concept of “social change”, on which depends the understanding of the notion of social-cultural process, we will focus on these notions: social control, system model, social system and cultural system. Through the acquisition of these theoretical pillars (a proper introduction to sociology), we will try to deal with one of the most radical elements which is rooted in the social relationships in more or less distinguishable forms: violence. Violence in fact isn’t merely an element of the structure of one’s personality, but a “force” which establishes itself in social relationships and expresses itself in forms which are not always distinguishable.

Syllabus

Contents of the course:
The course aims firstly at gaining the general patterns of the sociological concepts, in order to reach an adequate understanding of the notion of social-cultural process.
To reach this purpose, it will use the category of “relational sociology” which, before suggesting a sociological “school”, is a way to approach sociology which clearly underlines the peculiarities of the other sociological traditions.
After gaining these fundamental notions, the analysis will try to focus on an element which is to be found in myriad of social phenomena: violence, which will be studied and understood in its social phenomenology. Taking inspiration from the mimetic theory of Girard (but not only from this one), we will try to underline the fundamental factors which characterise its “social appearance”.

Books: Gilli G.A., Manuale di sociologia, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2000 (una parte del manuale sarà utilizzata per il corso di Sociologia del Lavoro); uno tra questi due testi: Morandi E. (a cura di), Contro Luhmann. Una critica realista alla teoria dei sistemi (in corso di pubblicazione), oppure, nel caso in cui “Contro Luhmann” non fosse ancora edito; Maccarini A., Morandi E. e Prandini R. (a cura di), Realismo sociologico. La realtà non ama nascondersi, Marietti 1820, Genova-Milano 2008. Infine per la parte monografica: Girard R., La pietra dello scandalo, Adelphi, Milano 2004.

Assessment methods and criteria

Written test (open questions).

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