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Georg Simmel, 1858-1918. Simmel’s Life and Career. Berlin; family life Private lecturer at University of Berlin Academic marginalization Anti-Semitism Lack of systematic theory Disregard for academic conventions Popularity with students Major theme: social interactions.
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Simmel’s Life and Career • Berlin; family life • Private lecturer at University of Berlin • Academic marginalization • Anti-Semitism • Lack of systematic theory • Disregard for academic conventions • Popularity with students • Major theme: social interactions
Social Interactions • Focus on everyday life • Identify underlying forms • Distinction between content and forms • Example: conflict • Example: domination
Simmel on Conflict • Positive consequences • Intense over impersonal interests • Generates group solidarity • Conflict among similars is most bitter
Simmel on Numbers • Dyads • Triads • Larger groups
Simmel on Modernity • “The Metropolis and Mental Life” • Overwhelming stimuli • Coping strategies • Tragedy of modern culture • Objective and subjective culture • Overall take on modernity: ambivalent and ambiguous
“Sociability” • Impulse to sociability • “play-form of association” • Balancing act • Manifestations of sociability, e.g. coquetry • Conversation: an end in itself • Transformation of daily life into “artistic play”
In-Class Writing (open book) Does the social scene in Palm Beach described by Dunne represent “sociability” as Simmel defines it? Why or why not?
Exercise Come up with a specific example of sociability from your own life experience. • How does your example fit Simmel’s definition of sociability? • How common is sociability today? • Is sociability increasing, decreasing, or stable over time?
Discussion • Is Palm Beach society an example of sociability? • Your examples of sociability • Frequency of sociability • Trends in sociability
Third Party Roles • Divide and rule • Rejoicing third party • Nonpartisan mediator
Domination • Mutual influence of superordinate and subordinate • Example: waitresses
Simmel on Money • Modern life takes form consistent with nature of money • No intrinsic meaning: means of exchange • Facilitates certain forms of interaction, leads to their dominance
Consequences of Money • Increased personal freedom • Impersonal interactions • Emphasis on calculation and intellect • Speeds up tempo of life • Specialization and personal development Prostitution: extreme example of negative effects of money on interaction