Module SOC2030 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SOC2030: Sociology of Art and Culture
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
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
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate some 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 developing 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 |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 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 |
| Personal and Key Skills | 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 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. |
Module Content
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 and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 126 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | Weekly two-hour lecture/seminars will consist of a lecture element introducing key theories and issues and a seminar element |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 2 | Exam revision session |
| Guided Independent study | 36 | Readings for seminars and tutorials |
| Guided Independent study | 10 | Preparation for seminar presentation |
| Guided Independent study | 40 | Researching and writing the essay |
| Guided Independent study | 40 | Readings and revisions for exams |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar Presentation | 10 minutes | 1-4,6 | Verbal and class feedback |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 2,000 words | 1-7,9 | Written feedback |
| Exam | 50 | 2 hours | 1-7, 9-10 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-7, 9 | August/September assessment period |
| Exam | Exam (2 hours) | 1-7, 9-10 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
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. 5th edition. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
STOREY, John (2009) Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: A Reader. 4th edition. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
