Online Cultural Sociology Course launched by Faculty Fellow Nelson Arteaga Botello

Earlier this year CCS Faculty Fellow Nelson Arteaga Botello, along with his colleague Luz Angela Cardona Acuña (CCS Visiting Researcher, 2019-2020) launched the open online introductory seminar on cultural sociology, “Cultural Sociology: From Durkheim to Alexander.” This free course was taught online (via Zoom) from early March to mid-May, using the virtual platform of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and Research, Autonomous University of Coahuila.

During the course, they analyzed the presuppositions of cultural sociology and focused on how order and social change are understood from this perspective. This course offered a historical review of the main discussions on cultural sociology that help distinguish it from the sociology of culture. The suggested readings were presented, and participants were encouraged to ask questions and make inquiries.

Topics covered were:

  •   What is Cultural Sociology? March 3rd
  •   Religion and Ritual. March 10th
  •   Symbolic Anthropology. March 17th.
  •   Semiotics. March 24th
  •   The Sociology of Culture. March 31st
  •   The Cultural Turn. April 7th
  •   Performance. April 28th
  •   Icons. May 5th
  •   Open Discussion: What to make of Cultural Sociology? May 12th
  •   There were three additional sessions devoted to groups who wanted to learn more about certain topics, develop specific research projects, or work on their graduate thesis.

They are happy to share the course syllabus and the course flyer (in Spanish).

730 people enrolled during the pre-registry, but only 75 applications from teachers-researchers and graduate and undergraduate students from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador, Spain, the US, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, and Dominican Republic were accepted. This shows that people are interested in learning more about an area of contemporary sociology that is changing how research is made and how diverse social problems are understood.

The students were highly engaged, and those who attended at least 80% of the sessions were given an official certificate of attendance for their professional records.

A Padlet was used to share materials, questions, and inputs:
https://padlet.com/t8698c52bp/lme5lcyrt4gj86vq

The seminar was sponsored by:

  •  Center for Interdisciplinary Studies and Research, Autonomous University of Coahuila
  • Autonomous University of Guerrero
  • Autonomous University of Tlaxcala
  • Institute of Legal Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico
  • Research and Postgraduate Department of the Humanities and Social Sciences School, Autonomous University of Baja California
  • Mexican Social Sciences Council

The organizers are currently planning for a second seminar during the winter for people who want to delve deeper into Cultural Sociology. For Spring, 2023, they plan to organize a workshop on specific topics. By then, the group should be smaller, which will allow them to work on case studies with more detail.

CCS Director Jeffrey Alexander comments, “This could be a great pedagogical experiment…perhaps it’s an idea that others may use, too.”

The CCS congratulates Nelson and Luz on their very successful first class.