SOC 571

                                Introduction to Cultural Sociology

                                            FINAL EXAM


Twenty-five percent (25%) of your grade will be based on a final exam due by 23:59 on January 7,
2018.* Please follow the guidelines below, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions. I will answer most e-mails within 24 hours.


You should choose four (4) of the questions below and write an essay response to each. IN ADDITION,
EVERYONE MUST ANSWER QUESTION #1. To be clear, you will answer a total of five (5) questions.


Your responses should be no less than 300 words each. There is no maximum limit. You should use at
least two authors from the syllabus (or under the Study Materials) in each of your answers.


If you use material that is NOT part of the syllabus, please make sure you include a full citation
for each source. Otherwise, you may refer to the course readings by author and week number.



1)      IN YOUR OPINION, what is cultural sociology?

2)      Discuss the differences between “cultural sociology” and the “sociology of culture,”
mentioning at least four (4) different dimensions.

3)      Discuss the main contributions of Emile Durkheim (and Durkheimians/neo-Durkheimians if you
so choose) to the study of culture.

4)      Discuss the differences between a structuralist and a post-structuralist perspective with
regard to the study of culture.

5)      Explain the “collective” aspect in sociological studies of memory (that is, the analytical
difference between “individual” and “collective” level of remembering).

6)      Discuss the effectiveness of Ann Swidler’s model of the relationship between culture and
action.

7)      Discuss symbols and their binary relations.

8)      Design a research project using cultural pragmatics/cultural performance theory (you have
unlimited funds and human resources). Be specific!

9)      Narrate a conversation between Eviatar Zerubavel and Bernhard Giesen on classification.



*Late exams will be marked down by 2 points (out of 25) for every day they are late.


*IMPORTANT NOTE: Students sitting for the State Master’s Exam MUST submit their exams by January 5,
2018.