Sociology of Cultural Diversity
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Bibliography
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
Because of this specific course program, students won't need specific prior knowledge. However, a little acquaintance of sociological terminology may be useful. To this end, students are advised to consult a Dictionary of Sociology.
The final exam is a written exam and it is designed to assess reasoning skills and analytical rigor on the topics covered by the course, as well as properties of language and communication. As a general rule grades are expressed on a scale of 0-30, where the passing grade is 18 and above.
Consistently with one of the main objectives of this degree, the course aims at providing a sound socio-cultural background useful in order to understand cultural specificities and differences related to the linguistic and geographic areas representing the field of specialization of the students attending the LM course in Lingue Moderne per la comunicazione e la cooperazione internazionale.
More specifically, the course will:
- provide knowledge, methods and social research tools targeting cultural and communicative processes, with a specific focus on cultural diversity.
- develop reading and analytical skills of social phenomena through the presentation of the main theoretical perspectives for cultural analysis and their application to some research fields.
This course aims at providing students with tools that enable them to read and analyse socio-cultural phenomena, with a specific focus on cultural diversity and change. Students will develop awareness in applying conceptual frameworks to a critical a pluralistic analysis of cultural phenomena.
The course deals with different themes, such as the relationship between culture and society, the problem of knowledge in everyday life, the cultural industry, the collective rituals of the contemporary world, the debate on globalization.
The first part of the course introduces the concept of culture as it is defined and used in social sciences and it is devoted to the presentation of conceptual tools for cultural analysis: the three definitions of culture; the processes of reproduction of culture; cultural differentiation; the social construction of space, time and body;
The second part of the course deals with the encounter between the concept of culture and globalization and it is devoted to the use of conceptual tools to analyse cultural phenomena, more specifically to cultural diversity. The course will address issues such as multiculturalism, cultural relativism and ethnocentrism.
Preparing for final exam, all students are expected to read and study course notes, course slideshow and the reading listed 1-3:
1. De Biasi R. (2002), Che cos'è la sociologia della cultura, Carocci, Roma.
2. Cuche D. (2004), La nozione di cultura nelle scienze Sociali, Il Mulino, Bologna.
3. Hannerz U., (2001), La diversità culturale, Il Mulino, Bologna.
Alongside these textbooks, students attending the Laura Magistrale in Lingue Moderne per la comunicazione e la cooperazione internazionale are required to deepen their knowledge of cultural mediation through the study of a text chosen from those listed at point n.4 or 5.
4. Lunghi C., Culture creole. Imprenditrici straniere a Milano, F. Angeli, Milano, 2003.
5. Lunghi C., Creative evasioni. Manifatture di moda in carcere, F. Angeli, Milano, 2012.
Course notes and course slideshow will be available on the e-learning platform.
The course includes 50 hours of lectures.
The first lecture is an introduction to the course. It serves to present course aims and program, teaching method and assessment criteria. Subsequent lectures are devoted to the content of the course itself.
The course alternates theoretical lectures and in-depth analysis of the most pressing issues posed by cultural mediation. It also includes meetings dedicated to exam textbooks and aimed to provide some guidance for reading and studying them.
Lectures make extensive use of illustrations and audio-visual material. The instructor is responsible for the entire course (design and teaching).
The instructor receives students by appointment, at the end of the lessons and according to the didactic calendar. To contact the instructor, send an e-mail at: silvia.mazzucotelli@uninsubria.it
Professors
Borrowers
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Degree course in: LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL MEDIATION