To offer conceptual tools for the understanding of culture and cultural processes in contemporary societies.

To offer methods for the analysis of contemporary cultural products in the frame of culture industry.

·  The concept of culture from a sociological and anthropological perspective

·  The classical sociological theories of culture.

· The cultural differences.

- Mass culture, highbrow culture and popular culture.

- The relation between culture and society. Culture and economy. Culture and politics. Cultural systems.

·  Culture and media  imagery. The case study of Great Mother images in popular film and comics.

·  Commodity as cultural object. The commodification of private life in contemporary  western societies.

1. Knowledge and understanding

Students have to reach basic knowledge and understanding of cultural processes of contemporary societies, with particular attention to culture industry and main social and cultural institutions. They should master basic concepts in order to be able to a critical cultural analysis of contemporary societies, with particular attention to cultural and communicative processes.

Students reach this knowledge attending lectures and practical classes, through discussion in class, participating to exercises leaded by the teacher, and studying textbooks.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding

Students should be able to

-  apply theoretical knowledge in order to understand cultural processes and problems of contemporary societies, and consumption and production processes in the frame of media and culture industry

-  design communication and cultural projects and products on the basis of their basic knowledge and understanding of culture

Students reach these skills attending lectures and practical classes, participating to exercises leaded by the teacher, discussion in class, studying textbooks.

3. Making informed judgements

Students have to reach critical and informed judgements skills on culture in contemporary societies.

Students reach these skills attending lectures and practical classes, participating to discussion with the teacher and other students in class, and studying textbooks.

4. Communication skills

Students should have skills in oral and written communication in Italian, should possess expression skills in Italian language and should master the basic concepts of the discipline

Students reach these skills asking questions and participating to discussion with the teacher and other students during classes, organizing a oral presentation of their group work or writing brief written text during practical classes.

5. Learning skills

Students should possess learning skills for further study.

Students gain these skills trough discussion with the teacher and other in class during lectures and practical classes, through argumentations of their answers to teacher questions, and studying textbooks.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures, seminars and practical classes.

Attendance

3/4 of the class.

Course books

1) Sciolla L., Sociologia dei processi culturali, Il Mulino Bologna vari anni, (pp. 7-229, corresponding to chapters. I-VI, and pp. 269-275).

2) Mora E., Gli attrezzi per vivere. Forme della produzione culturale tra industria e vita quotidiana, Vita e Pensiero, Milano 2005 (pp. 77-173, authors: Kopytoff, Gans, Crane, Hall)

3) Bartoletti R., Grandi madri mediali. Archetipi dell'immaginario collettivo nel fumetto e nel cinema di animazione, Liguori Napoli 2012.

4) Hochschild A.R., Per amore o per denaro.La commercializzazione della vita intima, il Mulino, Bologna, 2015 (the pages selected by the teacher during the classes)

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting.  For attending students only can be held an intermediate and written exam concerning the first part of the course program (open questions).

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Blended learning.

Course books

1) Sciolla L., Sociologia dei processi culturali, Il Mulino Bologna various editions.

2) Mora E., Gli attrezzi per vivere. Forme della produzione culturale tra industria e vita quotidiana, Vita e Pensiero, Milano 2005 (pp. 77-173, authors: Kopytoff, Gans, Crane, Hall)

3) Bartoletti R., Grandi madri mediali. Archetipi dell'immaginario collettivo nel fumetto e nel cinema di animazione, Liguori Napoli 2012.

4) Hochschild A.R., Per amore o per denaro.La commercializzazione della vita intima, il Mulino, Bologna, 2015.

Assessment

The exam will be held through an individual interview based on textbooks suggested. The aim is to evaluate both student's comprehension of the content and his ability in reworking concepts and in argumenting. It is possibile to present a written document on a topic agreed with the teacher. 

Excellent grades will be given in presence of: a good critical perspective and in depth study; knowing how to link among them the main subjects addressed during the course; the use of an appropriate language.

Good grades will be given in presence of:  good mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relatively good critical perspective and connection skills related to the treated topics; the use of appropriate language.

Sufficient grades will be given in presence of: the achievement of a minimal knowledge on the treated themes, even in presence of some gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Negative grades will be given in presence of: a difficult orientation related to the the treated topics; knowledge gaps; the use of a not appropriate language.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.