The course aims to provide advanced skills in Visual Sociology as an autonomous discipline and methodology of social research using images. As a discipline, Visual Sociology has the merit of configuring itself as a perspective in which visual and photo-documentary ethnography converge and which aims to construct a sociology capable of ‘thinking visually’ about social phenomena, often characterised as ‘visually relevant phenomena’. In this sense, the course sets the theoretical part by providing the necessary basis to distinguish and connect the contributions of Visual Sociology with those, equally central, of Visual Cultural Studies.

Based on these assumptions, the design of visual social research, the main research techniques and the tools of visual investigation and expendability useful for doctoral research are set up.

Introduction to Visual Sociology.

Vision as a socially constructed process.

John Grady's pragmatic definition of Visual Sociology

The design of visual research

Working with images | Working on images

Native image making and photo-elicitation

Case studies

Classroom exercise

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1. Knowledge and understanding

- knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological assumptions of Visual Sociology.

1.1. Students achieve this basic knowledge through attendance of lectures, study of the indicated material and in-class practice activities.

2. Applied knowledge and understanding

- ability to construct the design of visual social research, formulate the research question and identify the most appropriate methodological choice and technique for constructing the visual data to carry out the research; ability to integrate photo-stimulus techniques with the construction of the interview outline; ability to conduct interviews in a non-directive manner; ability to correctly conduct content analysis of interviews.

2.1. Students acquire this knowledge and ability through practice and discussion in class with the group and with the teacher.

3. Autonomy of judgement

- development of the analytical ability required to properly conduct the content analysis of interviews conducted with the support of images; ability to arrive at empirical generalisations of the research independently but shared with the class.

3.1. This ability must be applied in the classroom discussion with the lecturer and colleagues, during the exercises and in the preparation of the final examination through the study of the materials indicated.

4. Communication skills

- ability to present analyses produced during classroom exercises;

- willingness to actively participate in lectures with questions and comments;

4.1. Skills that are practised in the classroom by organising moments of discussion and practice.

5. Learning ability

- ability to critically analyse and evaluate, both in methodological aspects and results, empirical research on visually relevant phenomena through the methodologies of Visual Sociology

- ability to connect the concepts learnt.

5.1. Skills to be enhanced through argumentation with the lecturer, fellow students and/or by studying the indicated texts and the material provided.

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

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Teaching

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Innovative teaching methods

Flipped classrom

In-class exercises and group work

Attendance

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Course books

Faccioli P., Losacco G. (2010), Nuovo manuale di sociolgia visuale. Dall'analogico al digitale, FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Gemini L. Gemini L. (2021), Immaginario e comunicazione: teorie a confronto, in Centorrino M., Romeo A. (a cura di), Sociologia della comunicazione. Teorie, concetti, strumenti, Mondadori Education, Firenze, pp. 403-422.

Assessment

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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

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Attendance

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Course books

Faccioli P., Losacco G. (2010), Nuovo manuale di sociolgia visuale. Dall'analogico al digitale, FrancoAngeli, Milano.

Gemini L. Gemini L. (2021), Immaginario e comunicazione: teorie a confronto, in Centorrino M., Romeo A. (a cura di), Sociologia della comunicazione. Teorie, concetti, strumenti, Mondadori Education, Firenze, pp. 403-422.

Assessment

-

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.

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