Who rules America? The US elite(s) in sociology and popular discourses 4219-SH0038
The 2007–2008 financial crisis, growing social inequalities as well as political tensions have renewed interest in the subject of elites among social scientists and the broader public interested in the workings of American society. There is also significant curiosity about how those at the top of the social ladder in the world's most powerful country live and perceive the world. This course is designed to introduce students to selected issues related to elites in the United States.
The course will include discussions of various scholarly approaches that take up issues related to elites, such as the educational processes of elite members, the diversity and variety of elites, the culture and lifestyles of elites, and their ideologies and self-images.
Additionally, the class will examine how elites are portraited in popular culture, analyzing these portrayals with reference to social scientific observations.
Finally, the course will explore selected public debates and controversies related to the relationship between elites and the rest of society.
The syllabus will include analyses of both classical and more contemporary views of American elites, enabling students to trace the evolution of research approaches and above all – changes in American society itself.
Discussions will be based on three main types of materials: 1) academic texts (primarily sociological), 2) journal and magazine articles, and 3) popular culture works such as television shows and/or films.
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
- knowledge of basic sociological theories and concepts concerning elites studies;
- knowledge of various topics, trends and controversies in the US public sphere related to elite studies in the US and UK;
- knowledge of selected elements of American culture related to the topic of elites and public debates concerning elites and their relationship to the rest of society;
Skills:
- ability to critically analyze different forms of discourses, in particular academic texts and press articles;
- ability to employ theoretical concept for analysis of popular discourses;
Competences:
- having successfully completed the course a student possess knowledge and abilities to independently deepen their interests in issues concerning elites studies and social inequalities;
Assessment criteria
Students should come to class prepared and PARTICIPATE in the DISCUSSION! Active participation in class will be a key component of the final grade (40%).
During the semester, you should expect short, unannounced tests to check your level of preparation for class (30%).
The third component of the final evaluation will be the final project (30%)
Bibliography
Class participants will receive materials before each class via the Kampus platform. Sample items are posted below.
C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite (New York: Oxford University Press, 1956)
Wedel, Janine R. "From power elites to influence elites: Resetting elite studies for the 21st century." Theory, Culture & Society 34.5-6 (2017): 153-178
Shamus Khan, Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul's School (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2011)
The Guardian view on inequality and the super-rich: the status quo is unsustainable, 21.01.2024, (https://www.theguardian.com/)
Dead Poets Society, dir. Peter Weir (1989)
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: