SOS9236 ¨C Contemporary Social Theory

Course content

The course focuses on recent developments in three social theoretical areas or brands: i) Micro-Sociology, ii) Practice Theory, iii) New Materialism. It aims to introduce the participants to a broad range of theoretical and empirical ideas across the three fields and seek to trace the key discourses, debates and controversies surrounding them. It will situate these developments in relation to sociological and social theoretical traditions and concepts, and it will boost the participants' ability to relate these theoretical developments to empirical social, cultural and political contexts relevant to them.

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i) The first theoretical linage in this course focuses on micro-sociological theory, examining theories that explicate the importance of local forms of social interaction for shaping key facets of social life. We will review and compare micro-sociological theories within three main subject areas:

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1. Violence and protest (e.g., Katz, Collins, Jasper, Nassaure)

2. Creativity (e.g., Collins, Farrell, McLaughlin, Csikszentmihalyi)

3. Emotions (e.g., Kemper, Heise, Hochschild, Merton)?
   

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ii) The second lineage of this course concerns what is now sometimes referred to as Practice Theory, or theories of practice. This is a branch of sociological theory that starts from the seminal contributions of Pierre Bourdieu and the structuration theory of Anthony Giddens. We revisit these now foundational ideas and trace their development in the work of the practice theory of Reckwitz and Shove, but also the "dispositionalist-contextualist" approach of Bernard Lahire.

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1. Bourdieu's theory of practice and Giddens¡¯ theory of structuration: Commonalities and points of difference

2. Practice theory: how these theories have become articulated as a distinct strand of theory, perhaps especially in sociology of consumption

3. Dispositionalist-contextualist approach: We review Lahire¡¯s critique of Bourdieu and his own approach.

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iii) New Materialism

The third theoretical linage centers on contemporary developments towards what has been called New Materialism. The course understands this term broadly as covering a diversity of theoretical approaches which all highlights different forms of material agency. While seeking to give an overview of these developments, marking out internal similarities and differences, the course covers four such strings.

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1. The Actor-Network-theoretical string. This line of work is connected to Bruno Latour and Latours attempt to device a relational sociological theory which comprises non-human entities.

2. New feminism. This line of work is centered on recent feminist accounts of material agency. Focus will be on Karan Barad, her concept of agential realism and her relation to feminist theory.

3. The Anthropocene. This string centers on the concept of the Anthropocene and the relation to nature.

4. Hybrid practice theory / post-phenomenology. This string centers on the "mangle of practice" (Pickering) and on generating thick and close-up accounts of practice.

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Course leaders and lectures:

John Parker, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, Oslo University

Magne Flemmen, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, Oslo University

Bj?rn Schiermer, Department of Sociology and Human Geography, Oslo University

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Learning outcome

On completion of the course, the students will possess an overview of key-issues, concepts and controversies across a number of recent developments in sociology and social theory; they will be able to understand the critical impetus of the presented theories in regards to the social theory tradition; but most importantly, they will possess an understanding of the different empirical potentials and possibilities entailed in the presented theories, and thus be better suited in critically reflecting on proper theoretical choices and empirical possibilities in relation to their PhD projects.

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The participants will learn to apply the theories offered on the course to proper empirical work on the basis of (a) lectures offered by experts on the respective theoretical fields, (b) mandatory readings of preselected and pre-circulated texts, (c) presentation, feedback and discussion of own work in progress in relation to the theories presented on the course, and (d) the preparation of a subsequent 4000-word paper based on the course. They will also receive some mentoring in relation to their PhD projects.

Admission to the course

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The course is open to all PhD students who want to work with recent social theory in their thesis and/or seek an up-to-date introduction to recent important developments in sociology and social theory. Priority is given to PhD candidates at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.

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PhD students at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography register for the course in Studentweb Link til Studentweb

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Participants outside the Department of Sociology and Human Geography and Master students should fill out this application form Application form SOS9236 - Contemporary Social Theory - Nettskjema Since registration is binding, if you are not entirely sure that you are able to attend, please mark for waiting list in the application form.

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The application deadline is 9 October 2023.

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Participants must have a good basic knowledge of social theory (MA level).

Teaching

Course dates in Oslo are 27-30 November 2023.

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Preparation and schedule

Each of the first three days will focus on recent developments within a respective area of contemporary social theory: i) Micro-Sociology, ii) Theory of Practice and iii) New Materialism. During the morning session, one of the course lecturers will provide an overview of theory and research withing an area, followed by a student-led discussion of selected readings central to the theoretical area in question. Afternoons will be devoted to hands-on theorizing sessions. Students will present a research paper or essay seeking to relate their PhD project to one or more of the theoretical areas at the center of the course. They will then receive feedback from professors and PhD-peers. The final and fourth day will be used for additional presentations, but also to resume and discuss the main points of the course, and to mentor students on their research projects.

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A reading list will be communicated some months ahead of the course start. Participants are expected to read all obligatory readings prior to meeting in class, and to carefully prepare for the seminar discussions of the texts. Some students will be chosen to lead seminar discussions, but all students must participate actively in all discussions ¨C also in discussions of theories foreign to their own work or interests.

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Two weeks before the course starts, each participant contributes a one-page description of her/his project (aim, research questions and theoretical approaches) to katalin.varga@sosgeo.uio.no.

Examination

The course requires active participation all days, reading, and submission of a paper. 5 ECTS will be awarded when the participant has received a pass grade based on activity and completing the paper.

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The paper should focus on theoretical issues related to the candidate's research (ideally a first draft of an article or a thesis chapter). It should be approx. 4000 words, plus references. The paper deadline is 15 January 2024.

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Examination support material

All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or part of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.