Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film

The only text of its kind to explore central topics in sociology through feature films

This one-of-a-kind text takes readers beyond watching movies; it helps them “see” films sociologically and develops critical thinking and analytical skills that will be useful in college coursework and beyond. Cinematic Sociology's 15 essays from expert scholars in sociology and cultural studies explore the ways social life is presented-distorted, magnified, or politicized- in popular film. Exploring a variety of captivating classic and current films such as Forty Year Old Virgin, The Devil Wears Prada, North Country, and My Fair Lady, this unique book helps students to view films sociologically while also providing much needed pedagogy for teaching sociology through film.

Key Features

• Enhances students' understanding of sociological concepts. Each essay uses one or more feature films to illustrate key central topics in sociology: social class, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, work and family, global connections, and social change and the environment.
• Offers a framework for teaching sociology using film. This anthology provides instructors with an innovative and engaging method for teaching sociology; students are taught to see film as a type of "text" that can be analyzed and critiqued.
• Teaches students to identify sociological concepts in film. Traditional sociological concepts such as identity, interaction, inequality, and social institutions are analyzed in the context of feature films.
• Offers a comprehensive film index. The lengthy film index at the back of the book provides instructors and students with a resource for selecting films for critique and analysis.

Intended Audience

Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film is intended as a primary text for a wide variety of courses that use feature film as the medium for studying core areas in sociology from Introductory Sociology and Social Problems to Sociology through Film, Popular Culture, and Culture and Society.

This one-of-a-kind text takes readers beyond watching movies; it helps them see films sociologically and develops critical thinking and analytical skills that will be useful in college coursework and beyond. Cinematic Sociology's 15 essays from expert scholars in sociology and cultural studies explore the ways social life is presented distorted, magnified, or politicized in popular film. Exploring a variety of captivating classic and current films such as Forty Year Old Virgin, The Devil Wears Prada, North Country, and My Fair Lady, this unique book helps students to view films sociologically while also providing much needed pedagogy for teaching sociology through film.

Key Features:

• Enhances students' understanding of sociological concepts. Each essay uses one or more feature films to illustrate key central topics in sociology: social class, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, work and family, global connections, and social change and the environment.
• Offers a framework for teaching sociology using film. This anthology provides instructors with an innovative and engaging method for teaching sociology; students are taught to see film as a type of "text" that can be analyzed and critiqued.
• Teaches students to identify sociological concepts in film. Traditional sociological concepts such as identity, interaction, inequality, and social institutions are analyzed in the context of feature films.
• Offers a comprehensive film index. The lengthy film index at the back of the book provides instructors and students with a resource for selecting films for critique and analysis.

Intended Audience:

Cinematic Sociology: Social Life in Film is intended as a primary text for a wide variety of courses that use feature film as the medium for studying core areas in sociology from Introductory Sociology and Social Problems to Sociology through Film, Popular Culture, and Culture and Society.

Jean-anne Sutherland is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. For several years her primary research and teaching interests have centered on teaching sociology through film. Other areas of research include gender, mothering, and social psychology.

Kathryn Feltey is associate professor and director of undergraduate studies in sociology at the University of Akron. She has taught sociology through film several times and also taught masculinity in contemporary society and sociology of motherhood through the use of feature films. She is currently the Gender Section Editor of Sociology Compass.