Studying at the University of Verona
Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.
Study Plan
This information is intended exclusively for students already enrolled in this course.If you are a new student interested in enrolling, you can find information about the course of study on the course page:
Laurea magistrale in Marketing e comunicazione d'impresa - Enrollment from 2025/2026The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.
1° Year
| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
|---|
2° Year activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020
| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
|---|
| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
|---|
| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
|---|
| Modules | Credits | TAF | SSD |
|---|
Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)
TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.
Sociology and psychology of consumption (2019/2020)
Teaching code
4S02517
Academic staff
Coordinator
Credits
9
Language
Italian
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY
Period
primo semestre magistrali dal Sep 30, 2019 al Dec 20, 2019.
Learning outcomes
The course objectives of the course converge towards the ability to understand consumer action as social action, particularly in its symbolic and relational aspects. It is intended to provide students with a vision of the phenomenon in its symbolic aspects that can integrate the knowledge acquired from other courses of this degree course. Also through case studies and lectures to lecturers in the sector, we intend to provide the student with logical schemes and interpretative tools that enable him to analyze the phenomenon of consumer action in a transparent way, grasping the "irrational" aspects of social action and social relationship.
Program
The course is divided into two parts. The first one will deal with the social and cultural transformations which gave birth to the consumption society and it will explore the main theoretical frames applied to the consumption behaviors. In this first part the concept of material culture will be also deepened, highlighting its relevance for the analysis of the so called present phase of hyperconsuption (Lipovetsky).
The second part will be entirely dedicated to the work of Pierre Bourdieu, an author nowadays considered as a classic who researched consistently the connections among social classes, life styles and consumption practices.
PREREQUISITES:
To fully understand the contents of the course no particular knowledge is needed
CONTENTS
First part:
- the historical constitution of consumption society;
- the economic approach to consumption behaviour;
- the limits of rationality and the importance of the symbolic dimension;
- the dominance of capitalism and the resistance practices;
- advertising;
- consumerism and aticonsumerism;
- material culture;
- spare time and cultural consumption;
- urban space and consumption practices;
- digitalization and cultural consumption.
Second part:
- the concept of habitus;
- habitus, social structure and lifestyle;
- class, social distinction and consumption practices.
| Author | Title | Publishing house | Year | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roberta Sassatelli | Consumo, cultura e società | Il Mulino | 2004 | il testo va preparato interamente fatta eccezione per il capitolo V "Gusti, comunicazione, pratiche" che può essere saltato | |
| Paolo Magaudda | Digitalizzazione e consumi culturali in Italia. Mercati, infrastrutture e appropriazione delle tecnologie mediali, in “Polis”, XXVIII (3), pp. 417-438. | Il Mulino | 2014 | ||
| Viviani D., Grassi V. | Il cibo immaginato | Angeli | 2016 | SOLO parte II | |
| Douglas M. | Il mondo delle cose | Il Mulino | 2013 | introduzione e capitoli I, II, III | |
| Pierre Bourdieu | La distinzione. Critica sociale del gusto | Il Mulino | 1983 | Solo pp. 99-231 | |
| Domenico Secondulfo | Sociologia del consumo e della cultura materiale | Franco Angeli | 2012 | SOLO capitoli 1 e 2 e pp. 175-238 | |
| Lipovetsky G. | Una felicità paradossale | Cortina | 2007 | SOLO cap. 1 e 2 |
Examination Methods
The final exam will consist of a written test. The candidate will have to answer to 7 open questions in 2 hours of time. Three questions will deal with the topics presented and discussed during the course. The fourth question will try to elicit the critical analysis skills of the candidates. More clearly, the students will be asked to provide a personal reflection on some topics treated during the course (a comparison, a critical comment, an empirical exemplificaton, etc.)
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- the degree of comprehension of the discipline;
- the degree of comprehension of the single concepts;
- the capacity of presenting theoretical problems;
- the mastery of the disciplinary lexicon;
- the capacity to connect different topics;
- The capacity to provide powerful empirical exemplification of the theoretical concepts discussed.
