Tag Archives: sociodynamic

The still contemporary “Sociodynamique de la Culture” (Abraham Moles, 1967)

Moles, A. (1967). Sociodynamique de la Culture. Mouton

By Rooney Pinto

Abraham Moles’s 1967 work “Sociodynamic of Culture” offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamic interplay between cultural phenomena and social structures. This groundbreaking approach aimed to unravel the mechanisms that govern the creation, dissemination, and evolution of cultural elements within a society.

Moles proposed that culture is not a static entity but a dynamic system that is in a state of constant flux, influenced by various social, economic, and technological factors, and vice versa. His approach is predicated on a sociodynamic view of culture, which posits that culture is subject to various phenomena simultaneously, while also being reflected in them. As he stated: En d’autres termes, il est possible de suggérer une sociodynamique représentant une action non pas sur l’évolution de la société culturelle mais une action sur la culture elle-même. (Moles, 1967/1971, p.287)*

According to Moles, the cultural artefacts, such as art, literature, and music, are not merely the products of individual creativity but are shaped by the collective consciousness of a society. Cultural phenomena, therefore, emerge from the interactions between individuals, groups, and institutions, forming a complex web of influence and exchange.

Furthermore, Moles emphasized the importance of considering the temporal dimension in studying cultural dynamics. He recognized that cultural trends and patterns evolve, subject to the forces of innovation, diffusion, and obsolescence. By analyzing the life cycles of cultural elements, from their emergence to their eventual decline or transformation, Moles aimed to uncover the underlying social processes that drive cultural change and continuity. Notably, the author expresses concern about the potential impact of new technologies on the radio industry, particularly in the work’s timeframe. At the same time, he highlights the potential threat posed by television, which he views as a constant competitor to radio. Additionally, he draws attention to the manipulation of information dissemination through technology.

Moles’ theory was a product of his interdisciplinary approach, drawing inspiration from various fields such as sociology, anthropology, and cybernetics. He skillfully incorporated concepts like information theory and systems thinking to develop a unified framework for understanding the dynamics of cultural systems. As depicted in the following diagram from his book, Moles conceptualized culture as a complex network of interconnected elements, where each element influences and is influenced by different aspects.

Moles’s pioneering work laid the groundwork for a new paradigm in cultural studies, sparking a wave of research into the sociodynamics of culture. His ideas continue to shape our understanding of the emergence, evolution, and impact of cultural phenomena on societies, offering a more comprehensive and dynamic perspective on the interaction between culture and social structures.

*Moles, A. (1971). Sociodynamique de la Culture. Mouton (Original work published 1967)

Social Dynamics or Sociodynamics?

Social dynamics and sociodynamics are similar concepts, but they differ in some key ways. Social dynamics focuses on understanding how individuals interact within social groups, and how those interactions shape the overall behavior of the group. Sociodynamics takes a broader view, and studies the patterns and trends in social behavior over time, including the impact of social, economic, and political factors on those trends. Sociodynamics also looks at the systemic and structural factors that influence social behavior, rather than just focusing on individual interactions. So, while social dynamics is more micro, sociodynamics is more macro.

Preprints in Social Sciences

Which platform may be the most indicated for a preprint submission in the field of social sciences?

Among the platforms researched, I observed that OSF, Scielo and Elsevier preprints offer a reasonable structure for preprints submissions and analysis. In this sense, I kindly ask for suggestions on which platform may be the most indicated for a preprint submission in the field of social sciences.

How is multiculturalism and multilingualism approached in education policies?

How do education policies reflect the state’s concerns about multicultural dynamics in school and in what ways is multilingualism a component of national education strategies? As the school is a microcosm where social realities are experienced by the school community, the issue of multiculturalism can relate to multilingualism and have immediate reflections on learning or learning poverty.

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Histories and memories of the school during the Estado Novo period in Portugal.

A look into the sociodynamics of Moles and the social memory of Halbwachs

Starting from the thesis that social memory is sociodynamic and that remembrance reflects asocio-spatial-temporal mnemonic movement of biographical events, we propose reflections on how schooltime memories manifest themselves and what meanings are attributed to them. From semi-structured inter-views applied in 2017 to teachers who taught during Estado Novo, we call upon qualitative analysis for thetreatment of collected data. The narratives revealed that the memories emerge paradoxically nostalgic andcritical to the contexts associated with the Regime, announcing a narrative in constant dialogue of the pastwith the present, especially regarding the notion of authority and the teacher-student relationship.

Full text available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360576653_Historias_e_Memorias_da_Escola_do_Tempo_do_Estado_Novo_em_Portugal_Um_olhar_sob_a_perspectiva_sociodinamica_de_Moles_e_da_Memoria_Social_de_Halbwachs

Sociodynamique de la Culture

Can we talk about a new “Sociodynamique de la Culture”?

The publication of Abraham Moles’ “Sociodynamique de la Culture” in 1967 sparked new reflections on the relationship between the person, society and the modes of mass communication. Moles highlighted the intense relationship between the individual, his culture and the dynamics that develop around it. His approach to sociodynamic theory applied to message transfer reminded us about the dynamic and social processes that interfere with how a message is sent, interpreted, registered and shared. Although his work focused on radio and television, we could apply the same principles (with some breadth) to digital media. Nevertheless, how could we speak of a new Sociodynamique de la Culture in the current context? What new reflections can we draw from Moles’s sociodynamic theory?

Moles – Mass Communication – Television – Publication

Memory in permanent sociodynamic movement?

Memory as a social and cognitive sense of the past in the present reveals that the established paradigm of knowledge of the past interferes in the experience of the present (Connerton, 1989; Le Goff, 1977). The sense or meaning of the past in the present, particularly through the narratives of memory (recollections) expose a dichotomous and constant dynamic between remembering and forgetting. In this sense, can we understand memory as a social and cognitive dynamic in permanent sociodynamic movement?