Estudia

• B1. Collect, select, evaluate and transmit information effectively and efficiently, depending on objectives, sources and formats
• B2. Read, understand and comment on scientific texts
• B3. Communicate effectively orally, in writing and audiovisually
• B7. Written and oral English level equivalent to B2 in accordance with the standards of the European Framework of Reference
• B10. Develop the capacity of analysis, synthesis and critical judgment, identifying and arguing the causes and context

1. The Study of Contemporary Society

          1.1. Sociology: definition and object of study

          1.2. The Origins of Sociology

          1.3. Sociology today

2. The Stages of Contemporary Society

          2.1. The Age of Revolution (1789-1848)

          2.2. The Age of Capital (1848-1875)

          2.3. The Age of Empire (1875-1914)

          2.4. The Age of Extrems: the short 20th century (1914-1991)

          2.5. Posmodernism and the End of History (1991-2021)

3. Theories of Contemporary Society (1)

          3.1. Durkheim and Funcionalism

          3.2. Marx and Historical Materialism

          3.3. Weber and Social Action

4. Theories of Contemporary Society (2)

          4.1. Social Darwinism: Spencer and Kropotkin

          4.2. Funcionalism, Theories of Conflict, Interaccionism

5. Mass Communication

          5.1. Lasswell: the Hypodermic Needle Model

          5.2. Katz & Lazarsfeld: the Two-Step Flow of Communication Model

6. Communication, Computation and Artificial Intelligence

          6.1. Shannon & Weaver: the Mathematical Theory of Communication

          6.2. Turing: the Imitation Game

7. The Culture Industry

          7.1. The Frankfurt School and Hollywood

          7.2. The Culture Industry according to the UNESCO

          7.3. The Culture Industry in Spain

8. The Information Society

          8.1. McLuhan: the Global Village and the Four Ages of Communication

          8.2. Castells: the Internet, Globalitzation and the Network Society

          8.3. Audience Targeting and Permanent Record

• Adorno, Th. i Horkheimer, M. (1998). Dialéctica de la Ilustración. Madrid: Trotta.
• Castells, M. (2008). La era de la información (Vol. 1). La sociedad red. Madrid: Alianza.
• Durkheim, E. (2005). Las reglas del método sociológico. Madrid: Biblioteca Nueva.
• Giddens, A. (2018). Sociología. Madrid: Alianza.
• Horkheimer, M. (1998). Teoría crítica. Buenos Aires: Amorrortu.
• Jameson, F. (1992). El posmodernismo o la lógica cultural del capitalismo tardío. Barcelona: Paidós.
• Lasswell, H. D. (1985). Estructura y función de la comunicación en sociedad. Dins Moragas Spá, M. (Ed.), Sociología de la comunicación de masas, tomo II (, p. 50-68). Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.
• Lyotard, J. F. (2006). La condición posmoderna. Madrid: Cátedra.
• Marx, K. i Engels, F. (2017). Manifest del Partit Comunista. Barcelona: Taifa.
• Mattelart, A. & Mattelart, M. (1997). Historia de las teorías de la comunicación. Barcelona: Paidós.
• McLuhan, M. (1993). La Galaxia Gutenberg. Génesis del 'Homo typographicus'. Barcelona: Galaxia Gutemberg.
• Turing, A. (1950). Computing Machinery and Intelligence. Mind, 59(236), 433-460
• Weber, M. (2001). La ética protestante y el espíritu del capitalismo. Barcelona: Península.
• Weber, M. (1993). Economía y sociedad. Madrid: FCE.
• Snowden, E. (2019). Vigilancia permanente. Barcelona: Planeta.

Assessment activities:

The evaluation criteria of this subject include the knowledge of the sociological theories explained in class, skills in text commentary, the ability to analize contemporary mass media discourse and expressive correction, clarity and order.

Specific criteria for the "No show" grade:
If none of the evaluation activities is performed, the student will have a zero.

Single Assessment:
Given the characteristics of this subject, no one-test evaluation is considered.

Minimum requirements to pass:
In order to pass this subject, a minimum mark of 5 is required.

Any meeting with the teacher will be scheduled by e-mail.

All the information about the course will be accessible through a Moodle forum where students will be able to ask questions.