SOCIOLOGY OF CULTURAL AND COMMUNICATION PROCESSES
cod. 18549

Academic year 2013/14
1° year of course - First semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Sociologia dei processi culturali e comunicativi (SPS/08)
Field
"discipline tecniche dell'informazione e della comunicazione"
Type of training activity
Characterising
40 hours
of face-to-face activities
6 credits
hub:
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

Improve the ability to conceptualize the circular relationship between communication processes and cultural processes.
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and the basic principles of the analysis of the transformations of information in our time in the light of the current crisis, considering the major advances that characterize the frontier of research in this discipline.
At the end of the course the student will also be able to understand the scientific texts that deal with issues of sociology of communication and social change, with particular reference to the processes that generate collective resentment.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
The student will be able to support and discuss clearly, through arguments appropriate, possible proposals to address problems of varying complexity in the dynamics do construction of information, with particular reference to the construction of stereotypes victimizing.

Making judgments
At the end of the course, the student must have acquired the ability to critically interpret the main nodes of the national and international debate on the emotional dimension of the current crisis ..

communication skills
The student will be able to communicate to various stakeholders, effectively and with appropriate language, their own reflections on the interpretation and evaluation of issues and problems related to the course content.

Ability to learn
The student must have acquired the ability to approach so as independent as possible in more complex studies and in-depth with the completion of an appropriate method of study, particularly in respect to matters of sociological character.

Prerequisites

Degree in letters, philosphy or social and political sciences

Course unit content

The imaginary of the techno-nihilistic capitalism. And in Parma?
Analysis of the cultural and communicative processes in the current crisis, with particular
reference to the situation of Parma, characterized affirmation of the "MoVimento 5 stelle".

Full programme

The imaginary of the techno-nihilistic capitalism. And in Parma?
Analysis of the cultural and communicative processes in the current crisis, with particular
reference to the situation of Parma, characterized affirmation of the "MoVimento 5 stelle".
> Epistemological background. The information is not transmitted, it creates through modalities of
communication largely unaware, organized by relational
cultural and communicational processes (Gregory Bateson, René Girard).
> Sociology of crisis. Notion of "techno-nihilistic capitalism" (Magatti). A social formazion that dominated over the past three decades, fed by an imaginary of freedom as
realization of individual desires, tightly woven on one side with the opportunities
offered by the market in the process of globalization, and on the other, the
techno-scientific revolution, focused on the development of digital technologies.
> The crisis in Parma. In May 2012, in Parma, there has been the unexpected, sensational
statement, in the aministrative elections, of M5S, a national movement led by comedian
Beppe Grillo. What is the relationship between this event and the statement of the imaginary of
"Techno-nihilistic capitalism"?

Bibliography

1. S. Manghi, La conoscenza ecologica, Raffaello Cortina, Milano, 2010. Chi l’ha già studiato
nel triennio sostituisce con: A. Bonomi, Il rancore. Alle radici del malessere del nord,
Feltrinelli, Milano, 2010.
2. M. Magatti, Libertà immaginaria. Le illusioni del capitalismo tecno-nichilista, Feltrinelli,
Milano, 2009, SOLO Introduzione e prima parte, fino a pagina 192.
3. S. Manghi, Parma senza. Immaginario, società, politica - 2010-2012, Battei, Parma, 2012,
SOLO nelle parti seguenti: Itroduzione, Appendice e paragrafi che in iziano alle pagine 29,
30, 36, 43, 49, 75, 81, 88, 108, 110, 115, 119.

Teaching methods

Lessons and discussion. Analysis of interviews.

Assessment methods and criteria

Paper of analysis of some interviews, based on the conceptual frameworks discussed in the lessons.

Other information

- - -