Seminar on Sociology

Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles

Seminar on Sociology

Credits : 4

Lecturer :

Cynthia Dal

Mode of delivery :

Face-to-face , first and second term, 30 hours of theory.

Language of instruction :

French

Learning outcomes :

The seminar pursues two main goals. First and foremost, the seminar wants to initiate the students to the basic methods of academic work. Basing on scientific literature, this initiation aims to develop writing and comprehension skills, qualities of synthesis, structuring, argumentation and rigour in presentation of works and also abilities to put into perspective different authors around a specific issue. The second goal is to familiarize students to the specificity of the sociological approach namely the break with prejudices, the construction of the « object », the explanation of the social by the social. The methodological abilities linked to the academic work will be exercised through the concrete analysis of a specific sociological question.

Prerequisites : None

Co-requisites : None

Course contents :

Theme : "Sociological approaches of cultural practices"

During the first part of the year, the seminar will be dedicated to the exploration of the mains debates, concepts and theories, which cross a specific field in sociology, namely cultural practices. If the Bourdieusian model of « distinction », establishing structural homology between social positions and cultural practices, is a founding theory, this model is partially weakened by contemporary transformations like the “massification” of education, the rise of « eclecticism », the increasing influence of variables other than social class. Through sociological literature, especially Bernard Lahire and Philippe Coulangeon's works, we'll try to obtain a clearer idea of those evolutions and we'll discuss the current relevance of Bourdieu's model. A research on cultural practices and consumptions in Federation Wallonia-Brussels will also be presented.

The second part of the year will be dedicated to the development of specific issues:

- “Screen culture”: In which ways the digital era shapes people's cultural profile?

- “Cultural omnivority”: going deeper into the debate over the thesis “omnivore/univore” developed by Richard Peterson. Are we not witnessing erosion of cultural legitimacy boundaries?

- Gender and cultural practices: How gender shapes the cultural tastes and activities?

- Cultural policies: democratization of culture and cultural democracy. What assessment can be made?

Planned learning activities and teaching methods :

TThe seminar is a place of work and exchanges and requires from the students an active and constant participation. The first session will be dedicated to a general and brief introduction to sociology on the basis of a text, which will be previously read by the students. Some methodological advices and summarizing rules will also be expounded. A presentation on principles of summarizing to help students to summarize text will also be given. In order to prepare the second and the third session, the students will be asked to realize, firstly, a n abstract of one text and secondly, to write a review of two different texts. The reading of those texts and their discussion during the sessions will prepare the students to the first individual work, which consists in the writing of a cross-synthesis.

The second part of the year will be dedicated to detailed work in groups. During the first session, groups will be created and each group will choose one of the four issues. During the following weeks, the teacher will be available to answer student's questions, discuss the status of their work and to guide them in the realization of their presentation. During the two last sessions, students will present orally their collective work. The final evaluation will take into account the oral presentation and a second individual work, which summarizes the content of seminar.

Assessment methods and criteria :

The evaluation for the first part of the year will take into account:

- Written works, which enable the evaluation of qualities of synthesis, writing, argumentation, structure and rigour.

- The active participation to sessions, which enables the appreciation of student's involvement, the comprehension skills and oral communication.

The evaluation for the second part of the year will take into account:

- The collective oral presentation

- The final work of synthesis (individual)

Concerning the deposit of different works, no undue delay shall occur.