An exploration of timely, often policy-oriented and/or interdisciplinary issues in sociology. A specific topic will be addressed each time the course is offered. Topics might include Principles of Population, Social Inequalities, and other topics. May be repeated with different topics. Prerequisite: one course in SOC or permission of instructor.
| Distribution Area | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite: one course in SOC or permission of instructor. | 1/2-1 course |
Spring Semester information
Yen-Yu Lin301A: Tps:Sociology of Art
Fall Semester information
Aliyah Turner301A: Tps:Sociology of Education
Yen-Yu Lin
301B: Tps:Sociology of Art
This course approaches art as a sociological subject. The course covers a wide range of topics related to art and civil society, from contexts of creativity to production and reception, in addition to marketing, interpretation, and politics. The syllabus is divided into four units. In Unit 1, we'll begin by studying foundational concepts, including taste, art worlds, and methods. In Unit 2, we will examine how artworks are produced, evaluated, and exchanged in the traditional "art market." Unit 3 focuses on the objects and genres of art, developing our sociological mindfulness of exclusion and hierarchy in the art worlds. Digging deeper into the question of exclusion and hierarchy, Unit 4 focuses on the politics of art. We will look at communities of artists traditionally marginalized by the mainstream art market, including Outsider Artists, African American artists, Native American artists, and queer artists. On that, we reflect on intersectionality in the global production and reception of artwork. After taking this course, students are expected to be able to apply their sociological imagination to the art worlds, systematically analyze art as a social and political object, and engage in creative collective actions for social justice.