LSOC
3046

Social Life of Stuff

Eugene Lang College Lib Arts: Sociology

Liberal Arts
Undergraduate Course
Degree Students
Social Life of Stuff
Fall 2023
Taught By: Catherine Murphy and Terry Williams
Section: A

CRN: 16161

Credits: 4

This course looks at the social world of objects, products, and people. We will engage critical thinking as it relates to ethics, aesthetics and the public good as we think through questions connecting various transactions intersecting these phenomena. Some key questions: What discoveries do we make when we trace the life of the objects that surround us? How do we understand craft? What does the spirit of capital mean in present-day life and the act of making and re-making? What responsibility do we have in addressing the impact products have on the worlds we live in? As we think about examining unusual materials and items of the sacred what remains sacred today? Where does the moral compass stand as it connects to the Internet and places like Silicon Valley? These and other questions will be examined as we establish a logical and causal connection between technology and responsibility to consider the socializing effects of things by examining the various impacts of objects on everyday life.

College: Eugene Lang College Lib Arts (LC)

Department: Sociology (SOC)

Campus: New York City (GV)

Course Format: Seminar (R)

Modality: In-Person

Max Enrollment: 18

Add/Drop Deadline: September 11, 2023 (Monday)

Online Withdrawal Deadline: November 19, 2023 (Sunday)

Seats Available: No

Status: Closed*

* Status information is updated every few minutes. The status of this course may have changed since the last update. Open seats may have restrictions that will prevent some students from registering. Updated: 8:54am EST 11/30/2023

Meeting Info:
Days: Monday, Wednesday
Times: 4:00pm - 5:40pm
Building: Johnson/Kaplan 66 West 12th
Room: 509
Date Range: 8/28/2023 - 12/11/2023