General sociology and history and sociological theory

• Lectures with Power Points Slides 
• Class and small discussion
• Independent student writing and reflection
• Videos and films
• In-class activities
• Group work and presentations

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course offers an applied introduction to ethnography based on some “key concepts” (both “micro” and “macro” concepts) like: Socialization, Identity, Social interaction, Role, Status, Bureaucracy, Social Stratification, Social Class, Deviance, Total Institution, among others. Within the major concepts we will identify some key theorists that help us to better understand the problems on the stake. The goal is to provide a strong theoretical framework that allow us to interpret contemporary social problems and situations that typically social workers have to deal with.

We will start introducing a brief history of ethnography as the perspective that tried to interpret non Western cultures and practices. After explained what we can call the sociological/ethnographical perspective, we will describe the main three approaches to interpreting society (functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism) and how do they orient the research and data collection.

Introducing the first key idea  Socialization will analyze the problematic relationship between individual and society. In this contest we consider the source of the modern Self, the agents of socialization (Family, Peers, Education, Media). Social Interaction in Everyday life will introduce the concept of status, role, role conflict-strain, presentation of self, social construction of reality. Groups and Organization analyzes the changes of human behavior in primary-secondary groups, the functions (and disfunctions) of bureaucracy, the changes in the way of organizing the industrial work, from fordism to toyotism. Social Stratification will deal with the major concept of social class and its manifestation in our every day life.  Further, from ethnographical point of view we will investigate the phenomena of power and the most fundamental questions about the bases of political authority, leadership and unequal distribution of power. A special attention will be dedicated on globalization and on the changes that this new perspective occurs in the four previous fields mentioned before.

The class is generally organized based on lecture and discussion. A special importance will be given to videos (and other visual material) in order to stimulate students “sociological imagination”.

Course Goals:

The goals of this course are to

• - explain how sociologists think about and analyze the social world
• - explain how sociologists research the social world
• - introduce students to basic sociological concepts such as modernity, culture, socialization, social structure, social institutions, inequality/social stratification, self, and social change
• - introduce students to basic sociological theories
• - demonstrate to students how they are connected to larger social systems that affect their lives and how students in turn affect social systems and the lives of others 

Course Outcomes

By the end of the semester, you are expected to be able to:

• Understand the sociological imagination and perspective and how it can be applied to study human society
• Identify key theoretical concepts of major ethnographers 
• Develop an Ethnographical Research Project based on scholarly sources and participant observation

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

• Lectures
• Class and small discussion
• Independent student writing and reflection
• Videos and films
• In-class activities
• Any other instructions as appropriate for learning need

Texts for attending students:

2016. Gobo, Descrivere il mondo. Teoria e pratica del metodo etnografico in sociologia,Roma, Carocci 2016.

- Writing and presentation of ethnographical research (with bibliography).

Testi d’esame per i non frequentanti:

- G. Gobo, Descrivere il mondo. Teoria e pratica del metodo etnografico in sociologia,Roma, Carocci 2016.

- Plus ONE book to be chosen between these:

• Eviatar Zerubavel, Dato per scontato. Una sociologia dei luoghi comuni, 2019.

• Sociologia dell'inavvertito –2018 di Wayne H. Brekhus (Autore), L. Sabetta (a cura di)

• Simmel (I problemi fondamentali della sociologia; oppure Sociologia – alcuni capitoli a scelta)

• Goffman Asylum, La vita quotidiana come rappresentazione; oppure, Il comportamento in pubblico. L’interazione sociale nei luoghi di riunione oppure Asylum.

• S. Becker, Outsiders: saggi di sociologia della devianza, Parma, Meltemi 2017.

• E. Goffman, Il comportamento in pubblico. L’interazione sociale nei luoghi di riunione, Torino, Einaudi 2006.
• H. S. Becker, Outsiders: saggi di sociologia della devianza, Parma, Meltemi 2017.

The examination consists of an oral exam, conducted according to the criteria set out in the art. 23 of the University Regulations.

The examination consists of an oral exam, conducted according to the criteria set out in the art. 23 of the University Regulations.