SOC571 Introduction to Cultural Sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2013
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Gábor Oláh, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Csaba Szaló, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Zuzana Révészová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Ladislav Rabušic, CSc.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 18:00–19:30 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course presents cultural sociology as a specific analytical perspective or paradigm: as a sociological (sub-)discipline which differs from other analytical perspectives in sociology and social sciences by a particular methodological standpoint rather than by a specific subject of study. Broadly speaking, to approach the world in the perspective of cultural sociology is to take meaning as a basic social fact and to understand the social actor as a homo interpretans. These are the most general parameters that will lead our discussions of the selected topics and texts. And it is exactly the understanding of cultural sociology as a method of inquiry that makes it possible to speak about it as a sociological (sub-)discipline rather than a specific field of study. The method makes us sensitive to the social and historical impact of the relatively autonomous world of meanings, it brings under attention the cultural aspects and background of social practices, material objects, institutional arrangements, behavioral inclinations, etc.

More general methodological and theoretical texts are the primary focus of our attention in the course, yet occasionally we will also turn to examples of case studies and substantial analyses, also through individual mini-projects and presentations of the students and some visits of doctoral students researching their cases in the cultural sociology perspective. The major aim of the course is to gain basic understanding of what cultural sociology is and what it can do analytically, and therefore the course is concluded by writing final essays (and not by some kind of test).
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the course
  • 2. Cultural sociology as a new paradigm in social sciences
  • 3. Meaning as the central category of cultural sociology
  • 4. From phenomenology to collective memory
  • 5. Modern imaginaries and their cultural genealogy: cultural explanations of the historical emergence of cultural forms
  • 6. Symbols and rituals as collective representations
  • 7. Collective memory and circulation of meanings
  • 8. Event and cultural sociology
  • 9. Collective consultation on Jeffrey Alexander’s work
  • 10. Civil sphere, multiculturalism and modes of incorporation
  • 11. Material culture and the analytical re-enchantment of modern experience: iconicity, iconic meaning and iconic experience
  • 12. Students’ presentations
  • 13. Students’ presentations
Assessment methods
Requirements:
Position papers: for each class students prepare position papers on the assigned literature (each text assigned). In this written preparation they will identify the major argument(s) of the text, questions and dilemmas it opens, possible contradictions and/or most interesting points to discuss. These preparations also serve as a possible ground for the class discussion.
Before the reading week, each student will have chosen a topic for a mini-project from the field of cultural sociology (this topic has to be consulted with one of the teachers) and will be working on this throughout the second half of the course.
Individual presentations: during the last two weeks of the semester (and possibly earlier), each student will present his or her project before the class (a 10 minute presentation).
Final essay: the presentation will then be developed into a final paper of 2000-3000 words and meeting academic standards.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2013/SOC571