| CODE | SOC3035 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Sociology of the Arts | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is designed to investigate the role of aesthetics and its impact on social relations. It develops an understanding of different art forms and analyse what they infer on contemporary society. The study-unit will explore how meanings are produced in line with social, historical and economic conditions. This is an increasingly topical subject as a result of the expansion, diversification and criticism of contemporary art as well as its commodification. The study-unit will focus on the sociological understanding of taste and its expression in the different forms of social formations. Conversely, this study-unit will explore the analysis of artistic expressions as a social construction to understand the cultural processes interlinking the visual arts and society. Emphasis is made on an understanding of various sociological perspectives on the way art objects are produced, distributed and consumed. Study-unit Aims: - To understand key themes and perspectives in the sociology of the arts; - To employ critical thinking in the interpretation and sociological analysis of music recordings, photographs and film materials that are used during lectures to stimulate discussion; - To learn to connect aesthetics and cultural knowledge to everyday life experiences. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Make sense of the relationship between the art world and society; - Become familiarised with different approaches to art in society; - Explore the way social conditions impact on aesthetic judgment and taste. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Interpret and analyze the role of the arts in society in relation to different cultural conditions; - Write analytically on the social construction of art; - Reflect on one's own aesthetic judgment and taste by acquiring a sociological imagination. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Alexander, V. (2003) Sociology of the Arts, Malden: Blackwell Publishing. - Becker, H (1982) Art Worlds, California: University of California Press. - Berger, J. (1972) Ways of Seeing, Harmondsworth: Penguin. - Bourdieu, P. (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste, Cambridge: Harvard University Press. - Bourdieu, P. (1993) The Field of Cultural Production, Oxford: Polity. Gombrich, E. H. (1964) The Story of Art, London: Phaidon Press. Nisbet, R. (2002 [1976]) Sociology as an Art Form, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Wolff, J. (1981) The Social Production of Art, London: Macmillan. Zolberg, V. (1990) Constructing a Sociology of the Arts, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Valerie Visanich |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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