American Society Through the Lenses of Sociology

elective courses

The purpose of the course is to present and discuss selected sociological takes on important social, political and cultural issues in contemporary American society. The main idea is to introduce students to particularly important works that have sparked lively public debate because of their innovative perspective or the importance of the issue addressed. In addition to analyzing the works themselves, the course aims to familiarize students with a critical analysis of public debates and the infrastructure within which these debates take place.

The purpose of the course is to present, discuss and analyze selected sociological works that address important social, political and cultural issues in contemporary American society. In particular, we will focus on topics that are related to various dimensions of social inequalities - economic, racial, gender or political.

In this course, we will analyze works that have sparked a lively public debate due to their innovative perspective, the importance of the issue addressed or the wide publicity they have received. We will study excerpts from original texts (books or scholarly articles) and their discussion in various forms (newspaper reviews, interviews, debates, podcasts, etc.).

The course is designed to introduce participants to the broad theme of contemporary American society, familiarize them with an analysis of scholarly and journalistic texts, as well as the with a critical analysis of public debates and the infrastructure within which these debates take place (media, think tanks, YouTube, etc.).

Participants in the classes will receive materials before each class via Kampus platform. Examples of books are posted below.

• C. Wright Mills, Sociological Imagination

• Arlie Russell Hochschild, Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right

• bell hooks, Where We Stand: Class Matters

• Shamus Khan, Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School

• Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

• William H. Frey, Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America

Knowledge:

knowledge of selected sociological theories and concepts implemented in analysing American society;

knowledge of contemporary social issues related to inequalities in different dimensions;

knowledge of selected elements of the U.S. infrastructure for public debates, including printed media, podcasts, YouTube channels, think tanks, blogs, etc.

Skills:

ability to critically analyze different forms of discourses, in particular academic texts and press articles;

ability to employ theoretical concept for analysis of public debates;

ability to gather, analyze and structure information to defend one's position;

Social competences:

knowledge and abilities to independently deepen interests in issues concerning social inequalities;

knowledge and abilities to critically approach and analyze public debates as well as to voice one's stance;

Students should come to class prepared and PARTICIPATE in the DISCUSSION! Active participation in class will be a key component of the final grade (40%).

During the semester, you should expect short, unannounced tests to check your level of preparation for class (30%).

The third component of the final evaluation will be the final project (30%).