SOAN301:
Theories of Culture and Society
TTh, 2:00-3:50pm,
WH114
Monmouth College, spring 2012
This syllabus is subject to change throughout the semester – please consult the
on-line version at least once a week http://personal.monm.edu/jkessler/
Judi Kessler
Wallace Hall LL3
X2165
Office Hours: MWF, 10:00-11:30 & by appt.
Turnitin.com: class ID 4667999; password theory
Turnitin.com instructions
This upper-level course is designed to familiarize students
with a selection of key classical and contemporary sociological theorists and
theories. The emphasis will be on selected theories developed by sociologists
and other social scientists whose work is recognized as important to the
discipline of sociology (from fields including anthropology, psychology, women’s
studies, racial and ethnic relations, and economics). Unfortunately, not all
noteworthy social theories can be covered in this class, due to time
constraints.
We will begin with a look at the classic foundations of
sociological theory, as represented by Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber.
We will then examine a selection of contemporary “grand” theoretical
perspectives, including structural functionalism, conflict theory, and
neo-Marxist theories, followed by the more “micro” theories, including Mead’s
symbolic interaction and Goffman’s dramaturgy. We will discuss contemporary
feminist theory, including the liberal, radical, and socialist feminisms.
Finally, time permitting, we will review theories of post-modernity and
globalization.
At the end of this course, the student will:
be familiar with the body of
social theory that has come to shape the discipline of sociology over the past
150 years;
think about culture, society, and
social issues in a more critical and systematic way;
be able to meaningfully situate
empirical findings about the social world in theoretical perspective; and
(for the sociology-anthropology
major) be prepared to create the theoretical framework for her/his senior
thesis.
Required Readings:
Selected chapters from:
Contemporary Sociological Theory and its Classical
Roots: The Basics - Third Edition (prior editions won’t work)
George Ritzer
McGraw-Hill Higher Education (2010)
ISBN 978-0-07-340438-7
Selected readings from:
Social Theory: The Multicultural and Classic Readings,
Fourth Edition (prior editions won’t work)
Charles Lemert
Perseus Books (2010)
ISBN 978-0-8133-4392-1
Handouts: to be distributed in class
Course Evaluation:
Exams (3)
42%
Analytical papers (2)
17%
Essay Quizzes (many)
17%
Attendance
10%
Oral presentation
7%
Discussion Participation
7%
The exams will be essay format. If you miss an exam
without notifying me beforehand you will receive a grade of zero and will not be
permitted to take a make-up exam.
You are expected to attend every class meeting, having read
all the assigned readings, taken notes, and prepared comments and questions for
discussion. Regular attendance, good preparation, and active
participation in discussions will positively impact your attendance and
participation grades. The opposite is also true.
Essay quizzes
on the readings will be given at least every other week, and sometimes every
week. There are no make-ups for quizzes. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Papers will be
submitted a) in hard copy and b) to turnitin.com. Papers submitted by email will
not be accepted. You must complete and submit both papers in order to be
eligible to pass the course.
In addition, each student will
orally present a selection from the
assigned readings and facilitate class discussion on 1 occasion during the
semester. There are no make-ups for missed oral presentations.
If you have special needs, please register with the
Teaching and Learning Center on the 2nd floor of Polling. It will be
your responsibility to notify me a week in advance of each exam if you qualify
for and need special accommodations.
As mentioned above, all papers will be submitted to
turnitin.com to be analyzed for plagiarism. Students found to have engaged in
plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty, will receive
sanctions ranging from a “zero” on the assignment to a failing course grade. All
incidents of academic dishonesty will be reported to the dean in writing, in
accordance with Monmouth College policy.
A note regarding communications technology:
Laptops may be used in class with instructor’s permission.
Audibles on all personal electronic devices are to be turned off during
class.
All personal electronic devices, including cell phones, are to be put away
during class (off the desk and not visible).
Students found texting or otherwise engaging in cell phone use during class
will automatically have 5 percentage points deducted from their final course
grade. If noted a second time, the student will fail the course.
Reading
Schedule (tentative – dates will change)
Classical Theories and Theorists
Week 1 - 1/24, 1/26
Ritzer: Introduction to Sociological Theory (1-13)
Lemert: Social Theory: Its Uses
and Pleasures (1-21)
Lemert: Modernity’s Classical Age
(23-29)
Ritzer: C2 (15-21) (Durkheim)
Week 2 – 1/31, 2/2
Durkheim, Marx, and Weber
Emile Durkheim – From Mechanical
to Organic Solidarity:
Continue with
Ritzer, C2 (15-21)
Kessler-Lemert: Emile Durkheim (72-73);
Suicide and Modernity (Durkheim,1897) (81-89)
Heather-Handout: Social Order and
Control via Close Social Ties: The Example of Suicide (Durkheim, 1897)
Emery-Handout: White
Boys to Terrorist Men (Blazak, 2001)
Week 3 – 2/7, 2/9
Durkheim, Marx, and Weber
Karl Marx/Marxism – From Capitalism to Communism:
Ritzer: C2
(21-30)
Nathan, Jordan-Lemert:
Karl Marx (31); Class Struggle (Marx & Engels, 1848) (39-43)
Katie, Megan-Handout: Poverty & Inequality in the
Global Economy (Yates, 2004)
Jake, Jeff-Handout: Capitalism, Class, & the
Matrix of Domination (Johnson, 2001)
Week 4 – 2/14, 2/16
Finish Marx
Max Weber – The Rationalization
of Society
Ritzer: C2 (30-44)
Stephanie- Lemert: Max Weber (103-104);
The Spirit of Capitalism and
the Iron Cage (Weber 1905) (104-108)
Kessler - Handout: The Meaning of Ideas in
History – The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Collins, 1986)
Contemporary Grand Theories
Week 5 – 2/21, 2/23 (not on campus 2/23)
Structural Functionalism
Ritzer: C4
(66-87)
Andy-Handout: Some Principles of
Stratification (Davis, Moore, Tumin 1945)
Whitney, Emily- Lemert: Merton (1910-2003)
(225); Social Structure and Anomie (Merton 1938) (229-242)
First Exam - Feb. 28th
Week 6 – 2/28, 3/1
Morgan-Handout: Crime as a Source of
Solidarity: A Research Note Testing Durkheim’s Assertion (Hawdon et al, 2010)
Finish Structural Functionalism
Week 7 – 3/6, 3/8
Conflict Theory
Ritzer: C4 (85-91)
Thurs - Iyala, Michael-Lemert: W.E.B. DuBois
(1868-1963) (242); Black Reconstruction and the Racial Wage (W.E.B. DuBois 1935)
(242-245)
Tues - Felicia, Marleni-Lemert: Gunnar Myrdal
(1898-1987) (248-249); The Negro Problem as a Moral Issue (Myrdal) (249-251)
Handout: Katrina and Power in America (Dreier 2006)
Begin Neo-Marxian Theory, if time permits
Spring Break
Week 8 – 3/20, 3/22
Neo-Marxian Theory
Ritzer: C5
(106-115)\
Handout:
Neo-Marxian Economic Sociology (Ritzer & Goodman 2004)
Handout:
Cultural Studies (West & Turner, 2007)
Contemporary Theories of Everyday Life
Week 9 – 3/27, 3/29
Symbolic Interaction & Dramaturgy
Ritzer C3 (57-65); C6 (137-149)
Liz, Jamie-Handout: Borderwork Among Girls and Boys (Thorne 1993)
Jessica, Asya-Handouts: The Myth of Mental Illness (Szasz 1960), On Being Sane In Insane Places
(Rosenhan 1973), Grief Could Join List of Disorders (Carey 2012)
2nd writing assignment due April 11th (in turnitin and in my office)
Contemporary Feminist Theories
Ritzer C8 - Introduction (193-197)
Lemert: The Patriarchal Family (Engels 1884) (67-69)
Lemert: Charlotte Perkins Gilman (172), The Yellow Wallpaper (Perkins Gilman 1892)
(173-174)
Women and Economics (Perkins Gilman 1898) (174-178)
Week 11 - 4/10, 4/12
Ritzer C8 - Contemporary Feminist Theories (197-199,, 203-228)
Lemert: Betty Friedan (361), The Problem That Has No Name (Friedan 1963) (361-364)
2nd exam Tuesday, 4/10 - Study Guide
Week 12 (no classes 4/17)
Jessica A., Brittany - An Introduction to Female Masculinity...
Handout: The Subordination of Women and the Internationalization of Factory Production
(Elson & Pearson 1997)
Begin Globalization (pp 268-309)
Week 13 - 4/24, 4/26
Continue Globalization