This course aims at introducing a series of contemporary issues in cultural sociology. It is of interest for all students interested in questions related to the role of culture in social life. The course starts with an introductory session where we review the various meanings of the concept of culture in social sciences, focusing more precisely on its relevance for the study of social inequalities and class structure in contemporary societies. We then review a series of topics to which each session is specifically dedicated. Among these topics: elite culture and mass culture; Class, race and gender in cultural studies; Cultural capital and education; Culture and the fabric of aesthetics; Cultural diversity and cosmopolitanism; Culture in the digital era etc.
Each session comes with a set of two compulsory readings (book chapter or article).
Philippe COULANGEON
Séminaire
English
The course is open to all students interested in cultural issues in the social sciences (Sociology, anthropology, economics, political science). There are no specific prerequisites, even if the course echoes knowledge acquired in the first year in other courses, notably in the general sociology course.
Autumn 2022-2023
The evaluation will include three elements: a short mid-term exam during session 6 which will take the form of a series of knowledge control questions; a similar final exam during the last session of the course; and a collective essay on a topic related to the course curriculum by groups of 2 to 4 students.
The three parts of the evaluation will be weighted as follows:
- Mid-term knowledge control: 25% of the final grade
- Last session knowledge control: 35% of the final grade
- Collective essay: 40% of the final grade
The list of readings will be provided later with the detailed presentation of the 12 sessions.