Teaching code

4S00745

Teacher

Sandro Stanzani

Coordinator

Sandro Stanzani

Credits

6

Also offered in courses:

• Sociology of culture and communication of the course Bachelor's degree in Languages and literatures for publishing and digital media

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SPS/08 - SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION

Period

II semestre (Lingue e letterature straniere) dal Feb 19, 2024 al May 25, 2024.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The course is oriented to introduce students to the critical knowledge of: 1. the concept of culture and its components in a sociological perspective; 2. the characteristics of main cultural processes in act in contemporary western societies; 3. the historical evolution of Western travel culture. At the end of the course the student must demonstrate: 1. Know how to use the concept of culture as defined by contemporary human and social sciences; 2. have a conceptual repertoire and a specific lexicon to appropriately describe the cultural phenomena of contemporaneity; 3. to be aware of the main cultural processes that are at work in the complex western societies of this beginning of the millennium and in particular to be aware of the distinctive features of the modern culture of the West; 4. know how to describe the essential elements of the historical-social evolution of Western travel culture, with particular reference to the journey of pleasure, relaxation and evasion typical of contemporary tourism; 5. Know how to interpret the many types of tourist behavior. 5. saper interpre

Prerequisites and basic notions

There are no specific requirements to address the teaching content.

Program

The course will be divided into three parts, in which the following topics will be developed:
Part one
Sociological introduction to the topics
What is society and what is a social fact. Social Relationship as the Basic Concept and Object of Sociological Research and Knowledge. The different approaches to the study of social relationships.
Part II
Culture and Society
1) The concept of culture in social sciences.
A. What is culture (humanistic, anthropological and sociological perspective in comparison);
B. What are the social functions of culture (relationship between culture and society)?
C. what are the basic elements of culture (meanings, symbols, languages, codes, values, social norms, rites, myths).
2) Production, Distribution and Reception of Culture.
A. The fields of production of culture (science, law, art, religion, communication).
3) Cultural Trends of Societies in Mature Modernity.
Part III
Tourism as a cultural product
1) Symbolic aspects of travel and tourism
2) The sociological definition of tourist behavior
3) Historical forms of tourism
Or:
1) Elements of communication theory.
2) Orality, writing and printing and their influences on thought and social life.
Texts for the assessment test
A. Elementi di Sociologia generale, McGraw-Hill.
B. Griswold W., Sociologia della cultura, Bologna, Il Mulino.
C. Slides of the lessons uploaded by the teacher on the Moodle platform (pay particular attention to the sociology introduction file).
For students of the Tourism curriculum:
D. Savelli A., Sociologia del turismo, Milano, Hoepli , Milan, Hoepli (study chapters from 1 to 4 and chapter 12 with the help of slides).
For students of Publishing and digital media:
D. Ong W., Oralità e scrittura, Bologna, Il Mulino (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - from page 45 to 198).

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Teaching will be delivered with frontal method.

Learning assessment procedures

Normally, the course includes an oral evaluation test.
However, in order to facilitate attending students, a written test on the contents of the first and second volume of the course and the relative slides (letters A, B and C) is foreseen at the end of the lessons. The test consists of 32 questions with standardized answer alternatives (test type).
Non-attending students can also participate in the written test.
Those who report an evaluation of not less than 18/30 pass the written test.
Those who pass the written test must take a further oral test on the remainder of the program.
The second exam will be held in the ordinary sessions of June, July, September 2024 and in the months of January and February 2025.
Those who do not complete the exam by taking the second oral exam by February 2025 must take the exam on the entire program in oral form .
Those who do not take the written exemption tests must take the entire oral program.

Evaluation criteria

The assessment test is aimed at verifying the acquisition of specific concepts and vocabulary that allow the student to autonomously elaborate a description of the main cultural processes taking place in complex Western societies.
In particular (for those who opt for this option) the written test is aimed at verifying the acquisition of concepts and specific terms of the sociology of cultural processes.
Furthermore, for the students of the tourism curriculum, will be evaluated the ability to analyze the cultural processes taking place in the socio-economic sector of tourism and to provide an adequate interpretation of the types of tourist behavior in the West will be assessed.
While students of Publishing and digital media will be asked to describe the consequences that the modalities of communication through orality and writing entail for personal thoughts and life in society.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The overall grade will see the grade of the written test (for the students who use it) as a basis to which a score will be added (or removed) bas ed on the progress of the oral exam.

Exam language

Italiano / Italian