Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Sociology of Success and Spectacle
School	School of Social Policy
Department	Soc Policy, Sociology & Crimin
Module Code	08 38865
Module Lead	Dr Gëzim Alpion
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-10 hours Practical Classes and workshops-18 hours Guided independent study-152 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This sociology module explores why over the last three centuries ‘success’ has been more ‘worshiped’ than ‘analysed’, identifies some of the reasons behind the long-held tradition of approaching ‘achievement’ primarily as a ‘male’ concept, and examines changes in attitudes to ‘career’, ‘fame’, ‘notoriety’ and ‘heroes’ over the ages. Notwithstanding efforts made by sociologists since the middle of the twentieth century to study ‘success’, this is still a growing area. The emergence of Celebrity Studies has contributed significantly in this respect. The importance social scientists affiliated with this new academic discipline attach to ‘the image’ in the wake of Boorstin’s seminal work in the field, however, has meant that most of the ‘success’ literature nowadays is about ‘celebrities’. This is one of the main reasons why (i.) major socio-economic factors influencing people’s attitudes towards ‘success’, ‘failure’ and ‘anxiety’ have been largely ignored or mentioned in passing in the recent literature on success, and (ii.) thanks to the impact of social media, the emphasis nowadays is on the growing impact of ‘spectacle’ on our lives. In addition to classical and contemporary literature on ‘success’ and ‘spectacle’, the module approaches these and other above-mentioned concepts also through film. The module thus acknowledges the growing importance of this medium in education as an effective source of learning. Students will learn how film has ben moulding our views of and attitudes towards ‘success’ and ‘spectacle’ over the last 150 years since its inception.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: historically contextualise different notions of ‘success’ and ‘failure’; be aware of key sociological debates about ‘success’ and ‘spectacle’ see ‘success’ and ‘spectacle’ sociologically through the medium of cinema and social media have a better understanding of cinema as an influential social and cultural institution
Assessment	38865-01 : Summative essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Reassessed via 4000 word essay
Other
Reading List