Sociology of Culture - 1st semester

Objectives

a)To know and understand different sociological notions of culture;
b)To develop the ability of reflection about problems related with the cultural sphere (both narrow and broadly speaking);
c)To know 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;
d)To develop the ability to equate, research and describe diversified aspects of social phenomena, by using different acceptations of the concept of culture.

General characterization

Code

711081030

Credits

6

Responsible teacher

José Alberto Simões

Hours

Weekly - 4

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

None.

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 (65%);
Written essay - prepared in group, based on suggested topics (35%). This essay must be presented and discussed orally in class. The final classification of the essay results from the combination of the written work and the oral presentation.

Subject matter

1. About what we talk 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

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: