Sociology 1

Sociology 130

Sociology 135

Sociology 138

Sociology 155

Sociology 192

Sociology 238

Sociology 255

Reading lists

Writing samples

CV

Sociology 135

The Sociology of Popular Culture

Next taught Fall 2009:

Mendocino 1003 Tue/Thur 4-5:15

click here for a .pdf version of this syllabus.

click here for a .pdf file of the essay guidelines

readings and lecture notes on webCT

The ideas of the ruling class are in every epoch the ruling ideas.

Karl Marx, 1846

Not ideas, but material and ideal interests, directly govern men's conduct. Yet very frequently the 'world images' that have been created by 'ideas' have, like switchmen, determined the tracks along which action has been pushed by the dynamic of interest.

Max Weber, 1915

The medium is the message.

Marshall McLuhan, 1964

This upper division general education course will examine popular culture in all of its fascinating, seductive, addictive, and repulsive glory. The course will focus on some broad theories about the pruduction and function of popular culture in the context of society as a whole. The course will ask students to examine the world of music, television, movies, and culture in general with a critical eye from a theoretical point of view: questioning assumptions and thinking creatively about analysis and explanation. Students will be evaluated based on several paper assignments, quizzes, and written lecture responses.

There are three required texts: the books are available at the Hornet Bookstore, and the online reader can be accessed from the link above. A copy of the reader and all texts will also be on reserve at University Library. Students are expected to keep up on the readings and come to lecture , where we will discuss the readings. There will be no exams. Instead, students will be given the opportunity to explore ideas and issues in a series of response papers: The emphasis of the course is on ideas.

Furlough Disclaimer:
Due to the massive budget cuts in the State of California faculty have been furloughed for 2 days per month.  Some of these days may be instructional days, and as the CSU administration and the faculty labor union said, “cuts of this magnitude will naturally have consequences for the quality of education.”  Some of these furlough days, listed in the syllabus, will be taken when class would normally have met. Alternative assignments may be given to make up for the lost classes.