[CITASA] Take two-Will the real sociology of technologiesstandup?

[Bart Landry]

Thought I would add my two cents. I'm a sociologist with interest in a variety of areas including technology. I also do research on the labor process in the software industry, and in the role of technology incubators in the development of entrepreneurs and technology firms in Brazil.

A few years ago I introduced a course on "The Sociology of the New Economy" which including readings from Alcaly's The New Economy to Katz and Aakhus, eds Perpetual Contact (on cell phone use). The fact is that there is no one way to teach such a course and I found it useful to draw material from a variety of sources and disciplines. 

Unlike, say psychology, sociologists take on almost any subject matter; and if there are enough individuals interested they might be able to organize a Section in the American Sociological Association.  So there are a plethora of "Sociology of....."

I think there's no facile answer to the question "What is the Sociology of X?"  It takes time to develop some consensus about the relevant QUESTIONS and ISSUES. It takes a lot more time to develop theoretical perspectives, new concepts, hypotheses, and "theories". This is not easy, and I believe one can begin almost anywhere. I think all of us have the experience or revising courses a number of times before we are reasonably satisfied.  In new areas with scant disciplinary literature it's uphill work and maybe pioneering 
work. But I think it is probably better to attempt to put boundaries around "Sociology of X" rather than making it too broad. Think of some key questions to answer.

The next time I teach The Sociology of the New Economy I hope to focus more on the search for key concepts around which to hang discussions. The last time it was examining the impact of "the new economy" on society at the macro level and individual communication (more or less). I attach the syllabus for anyone who's interested.

Bart Landry

Prof. Bart Landry
Department of Sociology
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
301-405-6416

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