Sociology of Culture

Objectives

It is intended that the student acquires a thorough understanding of the central issues of the Sociology of Culture, i.e, its object, theses and problems, which makes him/her able to develop, as well, a critical capacity and reflection of late modernity cultural practices and features.

Program

MODULE I

1. Scientific study of culture

1.1. Concept

1.2. Culture and Civilization

1.3. Sociological approaches on culture

MODULE II

2.Culture, cultural production and reception

2.1. Culture of elite vs. mass culture

2.2. (Re) production of culture: media, art, literature

2.3. Culture as a commodity

MODULE III

3. Culture and Society

3.1. Culture, social change and globalization

3.2. Multiculturalism: The European dilemma

3.3. Cosmopolitanism or ethnic-racial and religious-cultural divisions?

3.4. Subcultures

MODULE IV

4. Culture and the political

4.1. Political culture

4.2. Public sphere and citizenship practices

4.3. Culture and cultural agents

4.4. Cultural policies in Portugal

Teaching Methodologies

The course consists of expository lectures.

Emphasis is placed on the following learning activities:

1. Reading texts that support lectures;

2. Discussion of subjects taught;

3. Discussion of relevant theoretical debates;

4. Guidance of students individually during office hours (two hours scheduled each week).

Bibliography

Crane, D., The Sociology of Culture, Basil Blackwell, Cambridge, 1994.

Crespi, F., Manual de Sociologia da Cultura. Estampa, Lisboa, 1997.

Elias, N., "Da Sociogénese dos Conceitos de «Civilização» e «Cultura»", in O Processo Civilizacional, Dom Quixote, 1º vol., Lisboa, 1989

Elliot, T.S., Notas para uma Definição de Cultura, Século XXI, Lisboa, 1996.

Goldmann, L., A Criação Cultural na Sociedade Moderna, Presença, Lisboa, 1976.

Hall, J. R. et al, Handbook of Cultural Sociology, Routledge, London, 2010.

Huntington, S. P., “The Clash of Civilizations”, in Culture and Politics, Lane Crothers and Charles Lockhart (ed.), St. Martin's, New York, 2000.

Miranda, J. A. B., Teoria da Cultura, 2º ed., Edições Século XXI, Lisboa, 2007.

Münch, R. e Neil Smelser (ed.), Theory of Culture, University of California Press, Berkeley/Los Angeles, 1992.

Santos, M. L. L. (org.), Cultura e Economia, ICS, Lisboa, 1994.

Turner, B., Teoria Social, Difel, Algés, 1996.