Sociology 216MK - Special Topics in Sociology: 'Marketing and Society'

Marketing penetrates every domain of society. While perusing the Internet, watching television, attending sports and cultural events, we are being marketed to by businesses. This course offers students insight on the fundamentals of marketing through a critical lens. Readings and assignments will give students an understanding of the theories and concepts that underlie marketing, along with its practical elements. We will be especially attentive to the ways that marketing influences social inequality. An ongoing question that we will explore over the term is what is the potential for, and what are the limits of, marketing as a force for reducing gender, class, racial, and other forms of inequality. Among assignments will be exercises where students critically examine marketing campaigns, such as inclusive beauty campaigns, and a project where students develop a marketing campaign that is attentive to social purpose.

Course limited to sophomores, juniors and seniors