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Sociology of Art and Culture

Module description

This course examines how cultural issues can be investigated sociologically. It introduces students to the main range of theoretical approaches to the sociology of art and culture, including classical Marxist and neo-Marxist paradigms such as those of Gramsci and the Frankfurt School, semiotics, and the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu. It also offers students the chance to explore sociological viewpoints on the nature of artistic creation and other forms of cultural activity. A particular feature of the course involves analysis of what the terms ‘art’ and ‘popular culture’ may mean, and the stakes that are involved in their use in different social contexts. The relations between social groups, forms of power and modes of cultural creation, dissemination and consumption are explored and reflected upon.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aims of the course are:

1 to provide students with a solid understanding of key themes in the sociology of art and culture, and to familiarise them with the central ways of thinking in this field

2 to allow students to develop their sociological skills in the context of a rigorous and analytical comprehension of artistic and cultural matters

3 to enable students to build on previously acquired sociological knowledge, taking these to an advanced level

4 to facilitate students in understanding key contemporary social and cultural processes and forms

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. demonstrate competence in working with diverse sociological approaches to art and culture;
• 2. demonstrate knowledge of classical contributions to, and recent developments in, the sociology of art and culture;
• 3. demonstrate the ability to understand and evaluate some of the major ways of analysing cultural forms, and to interpret specific cultural forms in light of these forms of analysis;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. demonstrate an analytical understanding of key sociological concepts;
• 5. demonstrate an ability to understand diverse expressions and manifestations of human life as cultural in nature;
• 6. demonstrate the capacity to evaluate empirical data in light of theoretical bodies of knowledge ;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. develop and deploy argument, grounded in theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence, identifying problems of reliability and bias;
• 8. participate in oral discussions; present and evaluate complex arguments and ideas orally; digest, select and organise material for oral presentations; and
• 9. focus on and comprehend complex texts. Undertake independent research and demonstrate ability to work to deadlines, producing accurately referenced written work.
• 10. demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specific task.

Syllabus plan

Introduction
Classical Sociology and Culture
Mass Culture and Popular Culture
The Frankfurt School: Culture as Propaganda
Semiotics: Studying Hidden Meanings
The Production of Culture
The Sociology of Art
Class and Cultural Consumption: The Sociology of Bourdieu
Cultural Hegemony and Resistance
Understanding Audiences
Cultural Globalization

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

INGLIS, David (2008) Culture and Everyday Life, London: Routledge

INGLIS, David and HUGHSON, John (2003) Confronting Culture: Sociological Vistas. Cambridge: Polity.

STOREY, John (2009) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction. 5^th edition. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

STOREY, John (2009) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader. 4^th edition. Harlow: Pearson Longman.

Key words search

Globalization, Art, Culture, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology