The purpose of this course is to understand the implications of social interactions in communication, in the different ways in which it takes place.
At the end of the course, students will: - understand the development of the discipline, from its origins to current platforms, with special attention to main frameworks of analysis, landmark publications and key scholars; - understand and identify the dynamics of social interaction; - apply frameworks of analysis and diverse methodologies in order toanalyze individual and group behavior, as well as the effects of propaganda on public opinion, with special recourse tophotography, information media (radio, television and the press), cinema, serial productions, and communication on social platforms.
Course Prerequisites
Knowledge of the fundamentals of General Sociology is desirable but not mandatory
Teaching Methods
The course is organized into lectures and delivered in person. Though not mandatory, attedance is highly recommended.
The course is delivered in Italian.
Assessment Methods
The exam will be oral and will focus on the topics covered during the course.
Texts
- Paccagnella L., Sociologia della comunicazione nell'era digitale, Il Mulino, Bologna 2020. - - The slides of the lectures that also offer links for further study will be available on the teaching platform (Moodle Unimore). - - Additional materials for analysis and in-depth analysis will be suggested by the teacher in class and made available on the teaching platform (Kiro).
Contents
The course is divided into two parts.
The first part will cover the following topics (4 credits, 24 hours): - Evolution of the sociology of communication, including the main schools of thought and theories, both from a historical and an ideological perspective. More particularly: : the Frankfurt School, the Chicago School, the Toronto School. Also, diffusionism, agenda setting, information management by the media and cultural consumption will be analyzed. Third, attention will be paid to the era of social media and the evidence given by the Echo Chamber and Filter Bubble, with a focus on fake news, body shaming, hate speech and the use of fact checking as a verification method. - Verbal and non-verbal languages, public opinion and propaganda, social changes mainly ansuing from the move from in the countryside to the city. - The evolution of media and technology, and how media, thecnology and society mutually influence one another.
The second part will deal with the following topics (2 credits, 12 hours): - Analysis of the main events that have characterized society over time and influenced its evolution as a collective event, identifying further references in the narratives of cinema, television, music, photography and TV series. Particular attention will be paid to politics and its ways of interacting and dealing with society: from verbal and non-verbal communication of political leaders to the speech and representation of the same contents in Social Media.
