Research group in Interactionist Cultural Sociology

Cultural sociology studies the repertoires of meaning and interpretation that people deploy when they navigate everyday life, work life, lifestyles, family, and civil society. The research group explores the significance of micro interaction.

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The interactionist Cultural Sociology Group
Project leader

Professor Anders Vassenden

Established

2020

We argue for an “interaction turn” in the study of culture

Anders Vassenden , professor og project leader
What is the role of temporal social interaction when a symphonic orchestra rehearses a Thursday evening concert?

About the project

Cultural sociology is fast-growing sub-discipline in sociology. With their own approach, The Interactionist Cultural Sociology Group argues for an “interaction turn” in the study of culture. This means that our group is particularly interested in the aspects of cultural phenomena that depend on micro-interactions, and how the use of broader cultural repertoires arise "from the bottom-up" and in the context of interaction. Theoretically, we follow the lineage of scholars like Émile Durkheim and Erving Goffman, and our work primarily relies on qualitative methods – ethnography and interviews – to address questions like the following: 

  • What is the role of temporal social interaction when a symphonic orchestra rehearses a Thursday evening concert?
  • What is the significance of friendships for cultural producers?
  • What is the role of social interaction as such when highly educated Norwegians tone down cultural capital in encounters with other people?
  • How does fun build communion while establishing boundaries?
  • What happens when fun and cruelty are linked, valued in the group, but rejected outside?

The Interactionist Cultural Sociology Group was established autumn 2020, and it regularly arranges open seminars where participants and invited speakers present publications and ongoing research.

Research group

Professor
51831523
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
Associate Professor
51831518
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
Associate Professor
51831275
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
Professor
51831652
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
Professor
51831507
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Media and Social Sciences

Selected Publications

On methods

  • Vassenden, Anders; Mangset, Marte (2022) Social Encounters and the Worlds Beyond: Putting Situationalism to Work for Qualitative Interviews. Sociological Methods & Research. DOI: 10.1177/00491241221082609

On substantive topics