17737 - Sociology Of Visual Communication

Academic Year 2011/2012

  • Docente: Patrizia Faccioli
  • Credits: 9
  • SSD: SPS/08
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Work, market, environment,social policies and social work (cod. 8047)

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed to analyse the relationship between the sociological knowledge and the visual communication, considering the role of the images in  the contemporary social scenario. Particularly, the aim is to focus the crucial role of the images (either as data or tools) in the social research theory and practice. The students are expected to achieve the ability to decode the visual dimensions of social reality and to use the images as research tools.

Course contents

The course will explore three topics. 1. "Seeing", that means the analysis of the role of sight and glance in the construction of the meanings and social organisation; 2. "Visualizing" and "Communicating with images", that is the study of the way in which images are used to communicate information, manage relationships and make visible the social differences; 3. "Doing sociology visually" (including both sociology "on" images and sociology "with" images), referring to the way in which the images can be used to empirically study social and cultural process. A specific focus will be the “digital revolution” and its consequences on people's everyday life

Readings/Bibliography

1) Mirzoeff N., Introduzione alla cultura visuale, Meltemi, Roma, 2002.
2) Faccioli P. e Losacco G., Nuovo manuale di sociologia visuale: dall'analogico al digitale, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2010.

In addition, a written review regarding the two following texts:

Agliani T, Bigatti G. e Lucas U., "E' un meridionale però ha voglia di lavorare", FrancoAngeli, Milano 2011

Gariglio L., Pogliano a: e Zanini R., "Facce da straniero", Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2010

Teaching methods

The teacher will lead all the course, with the support of images and videos.

Assessment methods

For the students frequenting the class there will be two mid-terms written examination, on Mirzoeff's text  and on  Nuovo Manuale di Sociologia Visuale .During the exam we'll discute about the third text.  For not frequenters students the exam will be oral on  the three texts

Teaching tools

PC, videorecorder

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Faccioli