Knowledge of the fundamental elements of the culture and society

Topic 1. Nature, culture and society A) The natural and the cultural. B) Person and personality. C) The societies. Topic 2. Elements of culture. A) Symbols. B) Language. C) Values and beliefs. D) Norms. E) Material culture. Topic 3. Cultural diversity. A) Universal elements of cultures. B) Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism. C) Subculture and counterculture. D) Global culture and glocalization. E) Elitist culture and popular culture. Topic 4. Cultural change. A) Integration and cultural mismatch. B) The causes of cultural change. C) Change and adaptation. D) Manifest function and Latent function. Topic 5. Religion and magic (I). A) Religion and magic. B) Types of religious organization. C) World religions. Topic 6. Religion and magic (II) A) Theories of religion: Marx, Durkheim and Weber. B) Gender and religion. C) Religious fundamentalism. D) Secularization. Topic 7. Ethnicity and race. A) Social meaning of race and ethnicity. B) Minorities and majorities: patterns of interaction. C) Ethnic antagonism: prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes and scapegoats. D) The authoritarian personality. Topic 8. The arts. A) The artistic activity. B) Body decoration and ornaments. C) Folklore. D) Artistic variations.

Theoretical classes for acquisition of competences related to the knowledge of the fundamental elements that constitute the culture and society. The individual practices will take place in the classroom and during the class. Throughout the semester there will be a group work that should have approximately 15 pages. This work must be presented orally at the end of the semester.