New Books in Sociology

In this podcast, guest Harry Pettit discusses his book focusing on underemployed men in Egypt striving for fulfilling careers. The discussion revolves around the emotional labor of hope, exploring how capitalism affects aspirations, meritocracy, and precarious lives in Egypt. The narrative highlights various coping mechanisms like education, migration, consumption, and prayer, shedding light on the challenges faced by young men in a capitalist economy.

Shu Yang, a scholar focusing on negotiating new womanhood in modern China, discusses the persistence of the 'shrew' archetype and its connection to the 'new woman' in modern Chinese literature. She explores how the shrew was used to depict suffragettes, jealousy, promiscuity, and Communist ideals. The podcast delves into the evolution of shrew literature, challenges traditional gender roles, and reflects on the author's research journey.

Dr. Mohamed Shafeeq Karinkurayil, an expert on Gulf migrant archives in Kerala, discusses the cultural impact of Gulf migration on Kerala. They explore interconnected narratives of migration and politics, cultural representations in literature and photography, and the evolving visual depictions of migration in Malayalam cinema. The podcast delves into the dissonance between private and public discourses on the Gulf and the construction of affiliative communities across borders.

Dr. Justin O'Connor challenges the commercialization of culture as an industry, advocating for its renewal as a social contract. Topics include the transformative power of culture in urban development, evolution of cultural definitions, the dual perceptions of art, cultural consumption evolution, challenges faced by artists, and redefining culture as a public good.

Sociologist Adia Harvey Wingfield discusses how workplace dynamics perpetuate racial inequities, highlighting the 'gray areas' crucial for advancement. Through interviews with diverse workers, she uncovers systemic issues that hinder black employees from progressing to leadership roles. The impact of hierarchy, gig work, network disparities, and allyship in addressing racial inequalities are explored, offering solutions to combat racism in work environments.

Historian Jaume Aurell discusses the concept of classics in history, exploring how certain texts become enduring classics and shape historical canons. He delves into the processes of permanence and change in historiography, encouraging readers to re-evaluate their ideas of history. The podcast also touches on the importance of considering historical canons beyond Western civilization, advocating for a more global approach in understanding and teaching history.

Sociologist John O'Brien discusses the role of alcohol in society, highlighting its importance in community development and tax bases. The podcast explores the historical context of alcohol, state reliance on intoxication for revenue, and the cultural differences in alcohol consumption. It also delves into the impact of industry concentration on consumer behavior, the link between alcohol, creativity, and urban revitalization, and the cyclical nature of government policies on substance consumption.

Author Gary S. Cross discusses the history of free time and its evolution from leisure activities to modern time-wasting habits. He explores the societal expectations of increased free time with industrialization but the reality of limited and unsatisfying leisure time. The podcast covers the cultural, social, and economic factors influencing our perceptions of free time, from peasant festivals to digital distractions, revealing the roots of our obsession with work and productivity.

In Seeking a Future for the Past: Space, Power, and Heritage in a Chinese City (U Michigan Press, 2024), Philipp Demgenski examines the complexities and changing sociopolitical dynamics of urban renewal in contemporary China. Drawing on ten years of ethnographic fieldwork in the northeastern Chinese city of Qingdao, the book tells the story of the slow, fragmented, and contentious transformation of Dabaodao - an area in the city’s former colonial center - from a place of common homes occupied by the urban poor into a showcase of architectural heritage and site for tourism and consumption.The ethnography provides a nuanced account of the diverse experiences and views of a range of groups involved in shaping, and being shaped, by the urban renewal process - local residents, migrant workers, preservationists, planners, and government officials - foregrounding the voices and experiences of marginal groups, such as migrants in the city. Unpacking structural reasons for urban developmental impasses, it paints a nuanced local picture of urban governance and political practice in contemporary urban China. The book also weighs the positives and negatives of heritage preservation and scrutinizes the meanings and effects of “preservation” on diverse social actors. By zeroing in on the seemingly contradictory yet coexisting processes of urban stagnation and urban destruction, Seeking a Future for the Past reveals the multifaceted challenges that China faces in reforming its urbanization practices and, ultimately, in managing its urban future.Philipp Demgenski is Assistant Professor in Anthropology within the Department of Sociology at Zhejiang University, China, and a Senior Research Fellow at Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Germany. His research interests include intangible cultural heritage, the politics of space and place, memory, and urban redevelopment.Yadong Li is a PhD student in anthropology at Tulane University. His research interests lie at the intersection of the anthropology of state, the anthropology of time, hope studies, and post-structuralist philosophy. More details about his scholarship and research interests can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/sociology

Fumilayo Showers discusses 'Migrants Who Care: West Africans Working and Building Lives in U.S. Health Care'. She highlights how West African immigrants have become essential in the U.S. healthcare system. The podcast explores their migration journey, challenges, successes, and the role of immigrant social networks. It delves into the discrimination they face and the implications for both sending and receiving countries.