BMET 22A55 - Culture and Society

This course offers a sociological exploration of culture, focusing on how cultural phenomena shape, and are shaped by political, social, and economic structures in society. Designed as a research methodology workshop, it provides students theoretical tools and empirical techniques to study cultural practices, their role in the construction of identity, power, values, and their political implications. The first four sessions will focus on theoretical approaches in cultural sociology and then

the following sessions will focus on empirical sociological analyses, allowing students to engage with concrete research examples and methodological applications.

Central to the course is addressing themes such as gender, race, social inequality, religion, social movements, social change, and the influence of technology and artificial intelligence through various cultural forms such as art, fashion, dance, performance, protest, language. Students will also explore how contemporary issues, such as digital media and AI, gender and race influence cultural production and politics, reshaping social movements, and how culture both reinforces and challenges social

structures.

o Understand core sociological concepts regarding culture’s role in society.

o Analyze the interplay between culture and social, political, and economic structures.

o Critically assess intersections of cultural phenomena with issues like gender, race, religion, power, social inequality, and technology.

o Explore transnational cultural exchanges and production and its role in politics and social change.

The course combines short lectures on theoretical and methodological concepts, group discussions and debates on assigned readings, including student-led oral presentations of selected texts. It also includes fieldwork assignments, such as micro-ethnographies, digital ethnography, interviews, discourse and visual analysis, alongside a group research project that culminates in a final research paper. These assignments are designed to strengthen methodological, theoretical, academic writing

skills and support students in developing sociological inquiry.

The course is validated as follows:

Class-in participation

Students come prepared, complete the required readings, and contribute to discussions, debates, and workshop activities, including the in-class research design workshop in Session 4. Participation also includes engaging with peers during presentations and offering constructive feedback.

Oral reading presentation

Each session, one or two students present that session’s assigned reading: its argument, its method,and two or three questions to open discussion. Presentations are supported by slides and last 15 minutes. Students choose their text and week during Session 1. This exercise trains you to synthesize academic literature and lead critical discussion. Slides are sent to the teacher 24 hours before class.

Group research project presentation

In groups of four, students choose one cultural phenomenon and a shared field site, then collect empirical material together using the methods covered in class. Each group presents its work once (together and on the scheduled date) : one group per session across Sessions 8–11, about 10 minutes plus 10 minutes of feedback, including the research question, the field site, the method, the material gathered so far, and the angle each member is developing. This is a work-in-progress

presentation and you are graded on the quality of the research design, the fit between question and method, your handling of the empirical material, and reflexivity, not on polished final results.

Although group members share a topic and field, they write separate papers.

Individual research papers

Each student writes an individual paper applying the course’s methodological tools and theoretical perspectives to the group’s cultural phenomenon. The paper must be based on original empirical material and demonstrate a clear sociological research question, methodological approach, and analytical argument. It takes the form of a mini-dissertation of 3000–4000 words (including references), with a cover page, abstract, table of contents, and list of references. Format: font size 12,1.5 spacing, normal margins. Use Harvard referencing.

Harvard style guides: Imperial College · Open University – Cite Them Right