Class Sociology of Culture and Knowledge

The Curricular Unit (CU) presents the main theoretical perspectives, debates and themes of the sub-field of ¿¿the Sociology of Culture and Knowledge. The CU presents different notions of culture and the different forms of knowledge in the context of the lives of individuals and contemporary societies, deeply mediatized, and characterized by commodification, globalization and digitization of cultural goods and services. The CU aims to encourage reflection on the role of culture in social life, providing conceptual tools and empirical examples for the interpretation of cultural phenomena in contemporary societies, with a special focus on Portuguese society.

Not applicable

C1: Notions of Culture and Knowledge C2: Sociology of Culture C3: Cultural production and cultural policy C4: Cultural distribution and mediation C5: Audiences and cultural practices, online and offline  

The CU adopts expository, participatory, and active methodologies. The teaching-learning methodology is based on the presentation of theoretical content, accompanied by audiovisual materials, practical exercises, debates, and group work, which allow the application of theoretical knowledge to empirical contexts (assessed as participation). Students are encouraged to engage with current research contexts in Cultural Sociology through guest lectures by experts in the field and, whenever possible, field trips. Continuous assessment consists of the following elements: 1) Research project on a topic within the scope of the course unit, to be chosen by the students and carried out individually, accompanied by the teacher through tutoring, with written work and oral presentation; 2) Review of two academic texts (scientific articles and book chapters), in groups, with oral presentation and group dynamics, i.e., an exercise involving the entire class, applying concepts in a practical way.

Brook et al (2025) Culture is bad for you. Manchester Univ Press Campos, R. (2024). Art and citizenship European Journal of Cultural and Polit Soc, 11(2), pp. 190–211.  Cetina, K (2007). Culture in global knowledge societies. Interdisciplinary science reviews, 32(4), pp.361-375. Coulangeon, P (2015). Social mobility and musical tastes. Poetics, 51, pp54-68. Garcia, J.L et al (2019). Mapping cultural policy in Portugal. International Journal Cultural Policy  Gaw, F.(2022). Algorithmic logics and the construction of cultural taste. Media, Culture & Society,44(4),706?725.  Guerra, P., & Ripollés (2021). Post Dictatorships, Cosmopolitanism, Punk, Post-punk. Popular Music and Society, 44(5), 610–627.  Grindstaff et al (Eds.).(2020). Routledge Handbook of Cultural Sociology  Inglis, D., & Almila, A (Eds),(2016). The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Sociology.  Neves, J. S. (coord) OPAC Pais, J.M. et al (2022). Práticas Culturais dos Portugueses. ICS  Spillman (2020).What is Cultural Sociology? Polity Press