Middlebury

SOCI 0420

Stuff: A Sociology of Things

Stuff: A Sociology of Things
Stuff surrounds us. It fills our lives and makes our lives more fulfilling. We make it, we break it. We love it, we hate it. Then we throw it away. But stuff can just as easily make us and break us. Yet, sociology rarely pays much attention to things. In this course we will uncover and study the surprisingly active social lives of objects. Drawing broadly from work on material culture, cultural studies, consumption studies, and critical theory, we will explore the complex meanings of objects, the relationships people form with them, and the ways they shape how we think and what we do. Students will learn object-based research methods to investigate the social meanings and uses of everyday objects.
Subject:
Sociology
Department:
Sociology
Division:
Social Sciences
Requirements Fulfilled:
SOC

Sections in Spring 2024, Midd First Half of Term

Spring 2024

SOCI0420A-S24 Seminar (Owens)