Award Date

1-1-1998

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Sociology

First Committee Member

Kathryn Hausbeck

Number of Pages

246

Abstract

Beat Sociology: Ethnographic Journeys in Event Spaces proposes a new theory and methodology for Sociology to better investigate and describe the social experiences of individuals. I call this new set of theories and methodologies Beat Sociology--I have developed this project utilizing the work of Beat writers (Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs), as well as social theorists (particularly Walter Benjamin and C. Wright Mills). Drawing from critical theory, postmodernism and ethnography, I develop three central 'themes' that help facilitate my project: identity, space, and migrancy. Through auto-ethnography I explore three types of Las Vegas spaces: event spaces, casino spaces and Fremont Street. Las Vegas has gained sociological, architectural and philosophic relevance in recent years, and through Beat Sociology I explore these spaces as well as explore contemporary sociological issues--spatiality, identity, migrancy, technologies of control, epiphanies, events and objects.

Keywords

Allen Ginsberg; Beat; C. Wright Mills; Ethnographic; Jack Kerouac; Journeys; Nevada; Sociology; Spaces; William S. Burroughs; Walter Benjamin

Controlled Subject

Social sciences--Research; American literature; Geography

File Format

pdf

File Size

8161.28 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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