GENERAL SOCIOLOGY M - Z

The course has the primary objective of providing students with the fundamental bases of sociology as a science that studies society in its dual theoretical and empirical aspects. It aims to offer a concise introduction to the different constituent elements and fields of application of sociological knowledge. These concepts will also be deepened through the study of sociology's classics and the learning of some fundamental notions of the history of thought and sociological theory. To complete the institutional part, there will be a detailed study of the most important American and European theories on collective action, in order to provide students with a general framework on the various collective phenomena that make up society in a critical perspective regarding the use of methodological approaches. The monographic part will represent a deepening of the theoretical part focusing on one of the themes already addressed: fashion as collective action.

The course will be structured in lectures and a series of seminars on the main topics covered in the program. Ongoing assessments are planned.

Good level of general culture and information on the main events and social facts that characterize current affairs and public debate in Italy and abroad.

Having already studied sociological subjects represents an advantageous position.

Having already studied the methodology of social research represents an advantageous position.

INSTITUTIONAL PART: 

1) Sociology as a science for the individual; The Dawn of Sociology; Karl Marx and the relations of production; Émile Durkheim and the problem of social order; Max Weber and social action; Georg Simmel and forms of interaction; Herbert Blumer and symbolic interaction; Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton and the needs of coexistence; Erving Goffman and the order of interaction; Raymond Boudon and the individual; Pierre Bourdieu and social practices; Anthony Giddens and the analysis of radical modernity; Zygmunt Bauman and liquidity; Being in relationship; Feeling part of; Re-producing cultures; Re-producing social norms; Communicating: mediatization; Living everyday life; The course of life; Living in the family; Acting together; Educating and learning; Living in the global world; Living on the planet: climate change. 

2) Collective action as a social process; Discontinuity and continuity in collective action; Models of rationality in collective action; Social movements as empirical referents; Collective action and methods of investigation; Concluding hypotheses; Fashion as collective action; #ItalianiSenzaCittadinanza: collective action of second-generation migrants in Italy; Collective action and environmental sustainability; 

MONOGRAPHIC: 

3) Sociological interpretations of the concept of fashion; Processes of social inclusion and exclusion through fashion; Conformism and originality among youth: empirical research.

1) Bichi R., Sociologia, Vita&Pensiero, 2022, Milano.

2) Daher L.M., Azione collettiva. Teoria e ricerca empirica, FrancoAngeli, 2021, Milano. 

3) Mavica G., Definizioni di moda. Soggettività giovanili e cambiamento sociale, FrancoAngeli, 2023, Milano. 

Learning Assessment Methods

For the evaluation of the exam, consideration will be given to the mastery of content and acquired skills, linguistic accuracy and lexical propriety, as well as the argumentative ability demonstrated by the candidate. There will be in itinere (ongoing)  assessments."

- Explain M. Weber's theory

- Provide a definition of social action

- What is meant by radical modernity?

- Provide the definition of liquidity according to Bauman

- Define the concept of social norm

- What is meant by mediatization