Theory Section
  • Info
    • Theory Events ASA Virtual Engagement Meeting
    • Bylaws
    • Section officers
    • Announcements
    • For Students
    • Junior Theorist Symposium
  • Newsletters
    • Current Newsletter Online
    • PDF Archives
  • Awards
    • Awards Overview
    • How to Submit
    • Theory Prize
    • Junior Theorist Award
    • Best Student Paper Award
    • Coser Award
  • Resources
    • New Publications
    • Theory Journals
    • Teaching Theory
    • Theory Syllabi
    • Theory Webpages

Perspectives
A NEWSLETTER OF THE ASA THEORY SECTION


Using Popular Culture to Teach Social Theory

12/23/2015

1265 Comments

 
Picture
Joseph Klett, University of California, Santa Cruz
Is Beyoncé a feminist? And why is this a good question to pose in an undergraduate social theory course?

The answer to the second question is revealed in how students answer the first: of course Beyoncé is a feminist! Students implore: did you not see last year's MTV Video Music Awards? Beyoncé performed on stage in front of lights that spelled out the word “FEMINIST” in huge letters. Why question this self-identification by one of the most powerful and well-recognized women in popular music?
​
“Well,” other students might say - perhaps with some prodding by the instructor – “let’s think about this.” Beyoncé put “FEMINIST” in bright lights, but does “Queen Bey” fit the definition of feminism as presented by theorists like Dorothy Smith? 

Read More
1265 Comments

The Art of Play and Teaching Theory

12/23/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Siri J. Colom, Connecticut College
What is theory for? There are nearly as many answers to this question as there are sociologists. Stinchcombe (1982) says one goal of teaching is to demonstrate models of great sociological research. Even if the classics are not perfect models of great research, they still offer students a sense of what sociology can be. By contrast, Michael Burawoy (2013) uses the metaphor of theory as maps—some better than others—for looking at particular areas of social life. He suggests that teaching theory is as much about teaching a way of thinking and looking at the world, as it is a series of ideas. Using the metaphor of a mountain range, he critiques survey courses where "students are taught to survey the mountain range from below, rather than attempting to climb one or more mountains and see things from their summits." From still another perspective, R.W. Connell (1997), in a classic critical look at social theory, notes that our celebration of "founding fathers," particularly in our courses and textbooks, is more a reflection of the preexisting institutions (of domination) that exist in the social world.

Read More
1 Comment

“Puzzling” Through Theory: Teaching Theory as a (Jigsaw) Puzzle

12/23/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Erin Metz McDonnell
University of Notre Dame
As researchers, we often speak of a “puzzle” in the symbolic sense of a theoretical puzzle – something as-yet unexplained by existing theories. By contrast, I will argue that, as teachers, employing the metaphor and material form of a jigsaw puzzle can be an effective teaching tool, enabling students to engage in visual and experiential learning to master theoretical arguments. The form of this pedagogical tool is easily transposable to a wide variety of different theoretical content. I will describe how I run the exercise, discuss pedagogical virtues of this approach, and conclude with specific tips to keep in mind if you decide to run a similar exercise in your courses.

Read More
2 Comments

    FALL 2022 Content

    Letter from the Chair: "Theory as Translation"

    "An Interview with Jordanna Matlon, author of A Man Among Other Men"

    Book Symposium on A Man Among Other Men by Jordanna Matlon
    • Jessie Luna
    • Annie Hikido
    • Yannick Coenders
    • Anna Skarpelis

    Colonialism, Modernity and the Canon: An Interview with Gurminder K. Bhambra

    ​Emerging Social Theorists Spotlight
    • Heidi Nicholls
    • Miray Philips
    • Feyza Akova
    • Davon Norris

    EDITORS

    Vasfiye Toprak
    ​Abigail Cary Moore
    Anne Taylor​

    Archives

    January 2023
    August 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    December 2020
    August 2020
    December 2019
    July 2019
    January 2019
    June 2018
    December 2017
    December 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    ASA Meetings
    Awards
    Big Data
    Book Review
    CFP
    Conference Recap
    Dissertation Spotlight
    Interactive
    JTS
    JTS2014
    Letter From The Editors
    News & Notes
    Notes From The Chair
    Pragmatism
    Prizes
    Recent Publications
    Teaching
    The Classics
    Winners Dialogue

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.