Sociology of Culture

MEETS WITH G65.2415

Non Sociology PhD Students: Please obtain instructor's permission and email Department of Sociology for consent.

This introduction to the sociology of culture begins with a unit on micro-foundations, including micro-sociology and work in psychology on social cognition. It then covers the major theoretical traditions and themes in the sociology of culture (Durkheim and ritual, Weber and the sociology of ideas, Simmel on cultural networks, Marx and Weber on culture and power). A third unit focuses on active research areas within the sociology of culture, including culture and inequality, institutionalized culture production, and political culture. The final unit explores different approaches to theorizing and studying cultural change. The goal is to equip the student with a broad overview of the field, including exposure to the full range of methods that students of culture employ.