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Sociology 108C: Methods of Cultural Analysis

Fall 2009: TR; 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM; Webb 1100

Thursday discussion sections:
5:00 PM: GIRV 2110 (Lomeli)
6:00 PM: GIRV 2135 (Lomeli)
7:00 PM: GIRV 2110 (Sinlao)
8:00 PM: HSSB 1210 (Sinlao)


Instructor

Nicki Lisa Cole: nickilcole@umail.ucsb.edu
Office hours: SSMS 3015; T/R 12:15 - 1:15 PM


Teaching Assistants

Monica Lomeli: monicalomeli@umail.ucsb.edu
Office hours: SSMS 3021; T/R 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Jamila Sinlao: jsinlao@umail.ucsb.edu
Office hours: T 12:45 - 1:45 PM, 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

 

Printable Syllabus
ERES Page
Assignments
Academic Integrity
Links of Interest

 

Citation Guidelines

A course reader is available at AS publications in the UCen by the first week of class, and all readings are also online via the library's ERES system.

 

Week 1: Introduction to cultural analysis

Tuesday, September 29: Introduction to cultural analysis

M.I.A. featuring Afrikan Boy: Hussel

Thursday, October 1: The rise & evolution of cultural analysis

Read: Williams, R. 1995. “Towards a sociology of culture,” pp. 9-32 in The Sociology of Culture. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Thursday, October 1 section: Discussion the goals of cultural analysis

 

Week 2: Research and methods

Tuesday, October 6: Crafting a research question & selecting methods

Read: Pascoe, C. J. 2007. “Making masculinity: adolescence, identity, and high school,” pp. 1-24 in Dude, you’re a fag: masculinity & sexuality in high school. Los Angeles: University of California Press.

Thursday, October 8: Introduction to content analysis

Film in class: Color Adjustment, Dir. Marlon Riggs

Read: Reinharz, S. 1992. “Feminist content analysis,” pp. 145-163 in Feminist methods in social research. New York: Oxford University Press.

Thursday, October 8 section: Discuss film & reading

 

Week 3: Doing content analysis

Tuesday, October 13: Research case study

Read: Cole, N.L. 2008. “Global capitalism organizing knowledge of race, gender and class: The case of socially responsible coffee,” Race, Gender and Class, 15(1-2): 170-187.

Thursday, October 15: Exercise 1 conducted in class

Thursday, October 15 section: Discuss Exercise 1 & content analysis

 

Week 4: Doing content analysis cont.

Tuesday, October 20: Assignment 1, Part 1

Decide upon materials to use for this assignment

Thursday, October 22: Assignment 1, Part 2 due at end of class

Decide topic & research question(s)

Thursday, October 22 section: Develop variables, categories, & coding sheet

 

Week 5: Doing content analysis cont.

Tuesday, October 27: Assignment 1, Part 3 due at beginning of class

Analyze data in class

Thursday, October 29: Prepare research report

Thursday, October 29 section: Share & discuss research findings

 

Week 6: Introduction to ethnographic observation

Tuesday, November 3: Introduction to ethnographic observation

Read: Emerson et al. 1995. “Fieldnotes in ethnographic research,” pp. 1-38 in Writing ethnographic field notes. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Assignment 1, Part 4 due in class

Thursday, November 5: Film & Exercise 2

Film: Dark Days, dir. Marc Singer

Exercise 2 conducted in class

Thursday, November 5 section: Review Exercise 2 & discuss ethnographic observation

 

Week 7: Doing ethnographic observation

Tuesday, Novebmer 10: Research case study

Read: Bejarano, C. L. 2005. “Latino/a youth cultures: The crossroads and collisions of colors, customs, and style,” pp. 88-125 in ¿Qué Onda? Urban youth culture and border identity. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.

Thursday, November 12: Plan for Assignment 2

Thursday, November 12 section: Assignment 2, Part 1 due in section

Share & discuss research proposals

 

Week 8: Doing ethnographic observation

In lieu of attending lecture this week, conduct 10 hours of ethnographic observation.

Thursday, November 19 section: Assignment 2, Part 2 due in section

Share & discuss fieldwork experiences

 

Week 9: Doing ethnographic observation

Tuesday, November 24: Assignment 2, Part 3 due in class

Review fieldnotes, select themes for memos

Read: Emerson et al. 1995. “Processing fieldnotes: coding and memoing,” pp. 142-168 in Writing ethnographic field notes. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Thursday, November 26: HOLIDAY -- NO CLASS

 

Week 10: Doing ethnographic observation

Tuesday, December 1: Assignment 2, Part 4 due in class

Analyze data

Thursday, December 3: Analyze data & prepare research presentation

Thursday, December 3 section: Share & discuss research findings

 

Week 11: Research presentations

Wednesday, December 9: RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS, 4:00 - 7:00 PM