MCCCD Program Description

Sociology Through Film

Course: SOC266

First Term: 2018 Spring

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Examines movie-going and the experience of spectatorship. Studies how motion pictures reflect, influence, and are influenced by American culture and societal institutions. Explores the role of the movie industry as a vehicle for social commentary, analysis, and criticism.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Describe how films affect and have the power to shape the development of certain social trends, identities, behaviors, and values. (I) 2. Explain how film reflects and reinforces dominant ideology. (I, II) 3. Identify, define, and examine key sociological concepts and terminology. (II) 4. Describe and analyze the basic theoretical perspectives sociologists use to analyze social phenomena. (II) 5. Explain major sociological perspectives and how they relate to an analysis of several sociological topics. (II) 6. Identify an appropriate sociological approach to the study of family related issues, including potential solutions. (III) 7. Analyze selected social problems from an institutional perspective. (III, IV, VI) 8. Describe the social nature of inequality and the types of inequality found in American society. (III-VII) 9. Identify an appropriate sociological approach to the study of health, illness, and healthcare institutions, including potential solutions. (IV) 10. Identify, examine and analyze film as an agent of socialization. (V) 11. Examine and discuss the influence of gender roles and sexuality on contemporary film making. (V) 12. Identify an appropriate sociological approach to the study of educationally related issues, including potential solutions. (VI) 13. Identify, examine, and analyze how a range of social issues are depicted and/or framed in both documentary and popular film. (I-VII) 14. Analyze the extent to which popular films accept and/or challenge cultural stereotypes and systems of inequality. (I- VII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Introduction A. Film as a societal mirror B. Film and the power to shape society II. Approaches to the Study of Social Issues A. What is Sociology? B. What is a social problem? 1. Private troubles 2. Public issues C. The sociological imagination D. Theoretical perspectives 1. Functionalism 2. Conflict Theory 3. Symbolic Interaction 4. And other sociological theories E. Sociological concepts 1. Sex 2. Gender 3. Socialization 4. Culture III. Family Related Issues A. The family in society B. Attitudes toward marriage and the family C. Social Issues Impacting the Family (i.e., violence, lifestyles, and international perspectives) IV. Illness and the Health Care Crisis A. Mental Illness 1. Definition 2. Extent 3. Nature of 4. Causes 5. Treatment strategies 6. Deinstitutionalization a. Impact and perspectives b. Perspectives B. Problems in Health Care 1. Rising costs 2. Access to medical services 3. Quality of medical services and inadequacy 4. Gender, racial and class inequality 5. The corporatization of health care V. Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation A. Gender and gender roles B. Agents of gender socialization C. Heterosexuality vs. homosexuality D. Theories of sexual orientation E. Societal reactions to homosexuality F. The gay community G. Gender inequality and sexism VI. Education as an Institution A. The Inequality of educational attainment and achievement 1. Social class 2. Family background 3. Race and ethnicity 4. Gender B. Problems in the American educational system 1. Low levels of attainment 2. School dropouts 3. Violence in schools 4. Inadequate school facilities and programs 5. Tracking C. Strategies for action 1. Trends 2. Innovations VII. Other Sociological Topics and Current Issues A. Deviance (i.e., crime and violence; addiction; prostitution) B. Athletics C. Environment and Population D. Economy and Politics E. Social Change

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: November 28, 2017

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.