Students

SOC 220 – Objects of Passion: Topics in Cultural Sociology

2014 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Justine Lloyd
Contact via x9940
W6A834
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
12cp
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
In this unit we look at debates regarding how to conceptualise and study culture. It briefly examines the place of culture in classical sociology before moving on to the recent phenomenon known as the cultural turn in the social sciences. You are asked to consider how the tools of cultural sociology have been applied to both cultural (such as arts, music, television, fashion, architecture, taste and DIY) and non-cultural domains (such as politics, social movements, national celebrations, science and knowledge and collective trauma). Students also address the issue of how cultural sociology intersects and diverges from fields such as cultural studies, cultural geography and cultural history. The unit is case study oriented and relies on the latest literatures in this vibrant field of the social sciences.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

General Assessment Information

All assignments will be submitted via turn-it-in and hard copy by 5pm on the due date (Fridays of the relevant week).

Hard copy submissions will be via the Arts assignment boxes, Level 1, W6A.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Class participation 20% Ongoing
Object story (250 wd) 20% End of week 3
Research project plan (750 wd) 20% End of week 6
Research Project 40% End of week 13

Class participation

Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 20%

You are expected to regularly attend and participate in seminars and class discussion.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

Object story (250 wd)

Due: End of week 3
Weighting: 20%

Written summary of in-class discussion.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

Research project plan (750 wd)

Due: End of week 6
Weighting: 20%

750 words + bibliography

The aim of this assignment is to give you a chance to get guidance in your topic and trouble shoot any issues that have arisen, or you foresee arising in your project.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation

Research Project

Due: End of week 13
Weighting: 40%

Individual contribution (1000 words, 2-3 photographs and captions from interview) to class exhibition


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Delivery and Resources

In this unit attendance at all seminars is essential for successful completion of the course.

Please consult the timetable for the latest information on lecture and tutorial times and locations.

You will also need access to the internet to access the ilearn site for SOC220.

Copies of the required Course Reader for SOC220 will be available for purchase at the CO-OP Bookshop at Macquarie University. Electronic copies of readings will be available on e-reserve via the 'Unit Readings' tab at http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/.

Unit Schedule

 

Week /Date

Seminar topic

Activity

Week 1

Introduction

 

Week 2

Production/Reproduction

Object stories begin

Week 3

The ‘social life’ of things

Object stories conclude

Week 4

Research methods & ethics

Interview practical

Week 5

Site visit: off campus

 

Week 6

Aesthetics

Reading discussion including report on site visits

Week 7

The Sacred

Reading discussion including report on plan for fieldwork

Week 8

NO SEMINAR

Self-directed study/ fieldwork

Week 9

Student work-in-progress

Presentations on work-in-progress

Week 10

NO SEMINAR

Self-directed study/fieldwork

Week 11

Student work-in-progress

Presentations on work-in-progress

Week 12

Course Review

Discussion of course themes and trouble-shooting

Week 13

Exhibition preparation

Selection of final student work for presentation

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Object story (250 wd)
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Object story (250 wd)
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify different traditions in the study of culture from a sociological perspective
  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members
  • Critically engage with other students’ ideas through structured discussion

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Object story (250 wd)
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Assessment tasks

  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply sociological theories to better understand the relationship between material culture and social worlds
  • Conduct a field-work interview through recording, transcription and/or photodocumentation
  • Present findings of fieldwork to participants and community members

Assessment tasks

  • Class participation
  • Research project plan (750 wd)
  • Research Project

Changes from Previous Offering

This unit was redesigned to focus on sociological objects between 2007-2013. It was accredited as a PACE unit in 2012 and in 2014 a fieldwork assignment (i.e. interview and photodocumentation) with members of local community sector organisations was introduced.

Student workload: Professional and Community Engagement

Activity

Student Workload (hours per week)

Overall Student Workload (total hours)

Orientation/introduction

1x3hr seminars (weeks 1)

3

Scaffolding for skills and knowledge development

2x3hr seminars on cultural sociological approaches (weeks 2&3)

1x3hr seminar on research ethics and interviewing (week 4) + 7hrs independent reading/study

2x3hr seminars on interpretive frameworks (weeks 6&7)

22

 

Experience/Project

6hrs independent study (weeks 8 & 10)

6

Assessment

6hrs per week (weeks 1-13 incl. semester break)

90

Wrap-up/debrief

2x3hr seminars student work in progress presentations (weeks 9 & 11)

2x3hr seminars+ 1x2hr meeting with organisation (week 12-13)

14

TOTAL*

9hrs (average)

135

1cp is equivalent to 3hrs per week over the 15 week semester (45hrs/cp total). The total workload for a 3cp unit is thus 135 hours.