Sociology of Everyday Life

General characterization

Prerequisites

Available soon

Bibliography

Burguess, R. G. (1997 [1984, 1ª ed. orig.]). A Pesquisa de Terreno. Uma Introdução. Oeiras: Celta.
Carmo, R.M. (2006). Contributos para Uma Sociologia do Espaço-Tempo. Oeiras: Celta
Certeau, M. (1998 [1980, 1ª ed.]. A Invenção do Quotidiano. Artes de Fazer, vol. I. Petropolis: Editora Vozes.
Coulon, A. (1996, 4ª ed. rev. [1987, 1ª ed.]). L’ethnométodologie. Paris: PUF.
Garfnkel, H. (1996). Studies in Ethnomethodology. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Goffman, E. (1993 [1959, 1ª ed. orig.]). A Apresentação do Eu na Vida de Todos os Dias. Lisboa: Relógio D’Água.
Maffesoli, M. (1989). O Conhecimento do Quotidiano. Lisboa: Veja Editora.
Pais, José Machado (2002), Sociologia da Vida Quotidiana. Teorias, Métodos e Estudos de Caso. Lisboa: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais/ICS.
Schütz, A. (1970). Fenomenologia e Relações Sociais. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar Editores.
Simmel, G. (2005) [1ª ed.1903]. As Grandes Cidades e a Vida do Espírito. MANA 11(2):577-591.

Teaching method

The pedagogical practice carried out in the UC seeks to articulate the learning outcomes, the knowledge and skills to be acquired, as well as the different contents of the unit. The central element of this UC is the operationalisation of theoretical approaches based on symbolic interactionism, ethnomethodology and phenomenology, applied to different objects of daily life. Its transmission takes place by articulating theoretical and empirical perspectives. This empirical illustration aims to improve the learning of different approaches, as well as to focus on exploration and interpretation of contemporary phenomenon’s of everyday life.     

Evaluation method

The assessment of the course is divided into three components:
a) 2 individual exercises in class (30%)
b) 2 group exercises outside or in class (20%)
c) Group work (50%) - This work will include a theoretical-methodological framework and the collection of some empirical data.
Firstly, the groups will select an article published in scientific sociology journals, previously selected by the teachers, which are examples of empirical research into everyday objects. A total of 18 texts will be made available on topics related to everyday interactions. These articles mobilise theoretical and conceptual approaches taught in lectures that support the empirical analysis of themes and problems in the sociology of everyday life. In a second stage, the groups select the topic on which they will carry out an original work, integrating a theoretical and empirical component.
Assessment will focus on the written text of the work (between 15 and 20 pages) (60 per cent) and the respective presentation/discussion to be held in class (15 minutes of presentation + 15 minutes of discussion) (40 per cent). This grade also includes the continuous assessment of each student and their participation throughout the semester.

Subject matter

1. SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACH TO EVERYDAY LIFE
• The Sociology of Everyday Life as a way of looking reality
• Temporalities and spatialities: coordinates of daily life
• Methods in approaching everyday life
2. SOCIOLOGICAL PARADIGMS IN ANALYSIS OF EVERYDAY LIFE
• From the notion of self to the concept of society (Mead and Blumer)
• Common sense in interpretive paradigms: phenomenology, ethnomethodology and the sociology of experience
Ritualization and theatricalization: Goffman's dramaturgical model
• Daily tactics and strategies: the work of Michel de Certeau
. Emotions and performances: Scott and Jacobsen
3. EVERYDAY LIFE INTERACTIONS
- Contexts on the margins;
- Social construction of space
- Relational, affective and virtual everyday life;
- Portraits and identities in everyday life;
- Closed everyday life: work, control and resistance
- Everyday life in public space and/or in the city
- Emotions and performance in the presentation of the Self.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: