The lectures aims to provide an overview of the main theories of deviance and social control with regard to the digital revolution. In particular, with the support of case studies, it will focus on the mechanisms of definition and government of the “abnormal” introduced by the new social media.
The main objective of the lectures is to offer knowledge and interpretative tools for understanding social changes, introduced by the new social media, in both: the way of defining deviance and the control and marginalization devices of individuals.
In particular, the lectures aims to:
- reconstruct the main models of sociological interpretation of deviance and social control;
- investigate marginalization/exclusion digital devices of individuals.
At the end of the course, the students will acquire adequate knowledge and interpretative tools to critically analyze deviant and digital control phenomena and to develop empirical research in this field.
- Frontal lessons;
- Exercises/small groups activities;
- Classroom discussions on the topics dealt with, starting from the analysis of case studies.
0. Introduction:
a) theories of deviance and of social control
b) capitalism/digital economy and digital control
1. Positivist criminology and new social media
2. Functionalist perspectives and its development particularly in relation to juvenile delinquency
3. Criticism of functionalism
4. Labeling approach
5. Panopticon and digital control devices
6. Dataveillance and digital vulnerability
Textbooks and recommended reading materials for students attending:
1. Notes made in the class.
2. The reading materials distributed and indicated during the course (via the portal aulaweb).
3. Z. Bauman, D. Lyon, Liquid Surveillance: A Conversation, 2013.
Textbooks and recommended reading materials for not attending students:
1. F. Prina, Devianza e criminalità. Concetti, metodi di ricerca, cause, politiche, Carocci editore, Roma, 2019 or other text agreed with the teacher.
2. M. Foucault, Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison, 1975.
Ricevimento: At the end of each lesson in the classroom or by appointment via e-mail (laura.scudieri@unige.it).
28 September 2020
The examination will be in oral form.
The exercises, the small group activities, the classroom thematic discussions and finally the oral interview will aim at evaluating the learning and the reworking of the contents from the candidates, as well as their critical reasoning skills and their public speaking ability.
