What can we, as sociologists, learn from the fact that humans experience shame differently from other creatures? Cultural sociology is a general sociological perspective on forms of social meaning, such as the phenomenon of shame. Cultural expressions of various kinds are analysed in relation to fundamental patterns of social order and processes of change. All social phenomena are culturally shaped or 'coded': roles, routines, social inequality, classes, social change, socialisation, agency, power or governance. At the same time, there are 'social locations' and social structures behind cultural phenomena. Traditionally, cultural sociology has been primarily interested in the various areas of 'high culture', with immaterial culture (e.g. literature, music) at the centre of attention for a long time. More recently, however, phenomena of mass and popular culture, as well as images, artefacts, bodily practices and affects, have also become the focus of cultural sociology. In the seminar we will look at routines and everyday life from a cultural sociological perspective. We will discuss everyday, albeit culturally contingent, phenomena such as shaming, meditating, smoking, falling in love, mushrooming and working. We will ask how we can subject everyday activities and routines to sociological analysis in order to learn about society from them. We will read studies that draw on cultural sociology and classical sociological authors such as Simmel, Weber and Mannheim and use them to analyse everyday phenomena. The aim of the seminar is to understand everyday routines and phenomena, but also to sharpen the sociological lens on the social structures that shape society.

Kurs im HIS-LSF