Sociology: Sociology of Culture

The relations of cultural forms and subjective experience to social structure and power; in-depth applications of interpretive approaches in contemporary sociology. Prerequisites: SOC 1500; SOC 2500 or SOC 2550; minimum Junior standing.

Prereqs enforced by the system: SOC 1500 AND (SOC 2500 or POLS 2800 or SOC 2550) Minimum Junior standing PACE students by permission and override.

"Culture" permeates everyday life--through institutions, patterns of behavior, attitudes, and social relationships--yet remains an elusive concept. This course provides a survey of the sociology of culture, exploring central questions regarding what is meant by the concept in relation to the social world. Culture is influenced by and constitutive of social, economic, and political processes. The course aims to develop an understanding of these relationships through the classical foundations, concepts, and perspectives developed in sociology and other social scientific fields. The role of culture will be considered according to four major aspects: 1) culture as a system of classification; 2) culture as an instrument of power and domination; 3) culture as a system of signs; 4) culture as an expressive object [through production and consumption] The course will further consider how culture may be used as a tool for social action or for the construction of identity. Course goals and objectives include: i) the acquisition of fundamental knowledge regarding the sociology of culture; ii) exploration of various approaches to the field of study; iii) critical application of theoretical knowledge by the student in a research paper.

At least six hours a week of work are expected outside of class, with additional time for the term paper project, per University policy regarding work required for a three-credit hour course.