Sociology

The course introduces students to key arguments about the various ways that economics increasingly underpins the cultural sector and the creative industries. The module outlines broad concepts that provide the students with foundational knowledge about cultural economics, cultural markets, and cultural value. Recent changes, such as the digitization of culture are introduced which help students identify and understand how the economics of culture is subject to change. Students learn about the way cultural labor is valued and often de-valued and the structures of cultural economies which enable inequality. A wide variety of cultural sectors and products are examined including cultural heritage, festivals, and cities of culture. Students consider the impacts of cultural production on the environment and innovative ways to change the footprint of culture, media, and creative industries.

This course is designed to develop student's understanding of Korean culture and society, focusing on intercultural awareness and communication. In this course, students learn about an ever fast growing and changing Korean society in the era of globalization. This course helps students appreciate the complexity and dynamics involved in Korean cultural contexts, enhance students’ self reflection of their own culture in relation to other cultures, and develop a cross-cultural understanding of other societies. As the world is transformed by globalization, Korea too has undergone enormous changes. Today's Korean society, economy, politics, culture, and the values of its people are vastly different from those of two decades ago. This course provides an overview of Korean culture with an emphasis on the major changes and continuities in Korea. We explore particular themes relevant to understanding Korea such as Confucianism, modernization, cyber-culture, in-group relations, indigenous values, nationalism, gender relations, multicultural families, and popular culture in contemporary Korea. Achievement of these goals requires emphasis on both theory and practice. From the outset, the course attempts to balance theory with practical experiences, in class exercises, and illustrative materials designed to increase intercultural awareness of Korean culture and society. Thus, student participation in class discussion and exercises is essential.

The main objective of this course is to prepare students with the knowledge and analytical tools needed to develop balanced views on Korean culture and society. Upon the completion of this course, students are able: to understand and explain values, attitudes, and norms that shape Korean culture; to develop awareness of, analyze, and evaluate their own cultural assumptions and how they relate to other cultures; to compare and contrast Korean culture and their own; to apply creative thinking and problem solving skills to intercultural/international communication; and to conduct research in a topic related to Korean culture and to write a paper based on the research.

This course investigates the main challenges that political activists need to address, and how protest takes different forms and employs different strategies and tactics in different countries, cultures, and circumstances. The course explores a wide variety of cases around the world, ranging from opposition movements in Socialist and authoritarian countries, environmental and civil rights protests, to peace movements and protests on behalf of foreign nations. Based on an examination of the successes and failures of different groups, the course develops a deeper understanding for the communicative dynamics of protest communication. Building upon this understanding, the course then focuses on a selection of specific protest movements around the globe, mapping their goals and strategies, challenges, and opportunities for achieving political change. The course analyzes these movements' activities communicating their causes toward the media, the public, and political authorities. The course brings together insights from several cases, discusses how different strategies can be applied in different contexts, and reviews the implications for the viability of effective political protest.

This course explores the impact of digital technologies on international affairs. It provides some key factual and analytical elements that should contribute to a better understanding and appreciation of this new field of study. Digital technologies are increasingly recognized as a defining feature of contemporary world affairs. The web, social media, but also blockchain and AI affect public engagement and governance at European and international levels.