ENAR305

Sociology and Culture

Syllabus

Sociology, Society and Human-Environment Relationship (4 hours)
1. Sociology as the study of human society
2. Scope of sociology to architectural studies
3. Society as a human-environment system
4. Concept of social architecture and spatial organization
Social Structure, Institutions and Social Processes (4 hours)
1. Social structure in rural and urban Nepal
2. Institutions: family, religion, economy, governance and their spatial roles
3. Social groups, communities and neighborhood organization
4. Social interaction: forms and implications for space
5. Introduction to social change within institutions and communities
Culture and Civilization (6 hours)
1. Concept of culture and civilization
2. Culture, cultural drift, diffusion, transmission, acculturation
3. Family and kinship systems
4. Gender and power: patriarchal and matriarchal systems
5. Tangible and intangible cultural heritage
6. Civilization and archaeology: early city forms (Indus, Mesopotamia, Egypt)
7. Nepali context: Lumbini archaeology and Buddhist urbanism as sacred city models
Social and Cultural Dimensions of Architecture in Nepal (6 hours)
1. Socio-cultural meaning of open spaces: chowks, ghats, courtyards, public squares
2. Socio-cultural meaning of built spaces: houses, temples, palaces, communal halls
3. Ethnic and regional traditions: Newar settlements, Mithila houses, Tharu housing, Khasa settlements
4. Rituals, festivals and community practices shaping architecture
Social Change and Modernization (4 hours)
1. Processes of social change: migration, urbanization, globalization
2. Impacts on traditional architecture and settlements
3. Changing family, kinship and community patterns
4. Contemporary socio-cultural challenges in Nepali architectural design
Applied Study: Socio-Cultural Analysis (6 hours)
1. Application of sociological and cultural concepts to architecture
2. Field observation of a settlement, neighborhood or building type
3. Mapping social use of spaces
4. Short reflective assignment linking social practices and spatial design
5. Group and class presentations of applied findings

Syllabus

Sociology, Society and Human-Environment Relationship (4 hours)

Sociology as the study of human society
Scope of sociology to architectural studies
Society as a human-environment system
Concept of social architecture and spatial organization

Social Structure, Institutions and Social Processes (4 hours)

Social structure in rural and urban Nepal
Institutions: family, religion, economy, governance and their spatial roles
Social groups, communities and neighborhood organization
Social interaction: forms and implications for space
Introduction to social change within institutions and communities

Culture and Civilization (6 hours)

Concept of culture and civilization
Culture, cultural drift, diffusion, transmission, acculturation
Family and kinship systems
Gender and power: patriarchal and matriarchal systems
Tangible and intangible cultural heritage
Civilization and archaeology: early city forms (Indus, Mesopotamia, Egypt)
Nepali context: Lumbini archaeology and Buddhist urbanism as sacred city models

Social and Cultural Dimensions of Architecture in Nepal (6 hours)

Socio-cultural meaning of open spaces: chowks, ghats, courtyards, public squares
Socio-cultural meaning of built spaces: houses, temples, palaces, communal halls
Ethnic and regional traditions: Newar settlements, Mithila houses, Tharu housing, Khasa settlements
Rituals, festivals and community practices shaping architecture

Social Change and Modernization (4 hours)

Processes of social change: migration, urbanization, globalization
Impacts on traditional architecture and settlements
Changing family, kinship and community patterns
Contemporary socio-cultural challenges in Nepali architectural design

Applied Study: Socio-Cultural Analysis (6 hours)

Application of sociological and cultural concepts to architecture
Field observation of a settlement, neighborhood or building type
Mapping social use of spaces
Short reflective assignment linking social practices and spatial design
Group and class presentations of applied findings