Menu

Show Your Syllabus: Weddings Unveiled

In this sociology class, students learn about the history of the wedding and its place in society.

Show Your Syllabus: Weddings Unveiled

In this sociology class, students learn about the history of the wedding and its place in society.

About the course: In Unveiled: The Sociology of Weddings, students explore the religious and ceremonial significance of a wedding, plus the political implications that come with the wedding industry. In American society, this multibillion-dollar business deals with a global network that can include the illegal diamond trade. Students learn the history of weddings and the changes in the industry over time, the effects on culture and society, the ritualistic aspects of the ceremony, and gender roles within traditional weddings.

Feb. 10, 1840: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on their return from the marriage service at St. James's Palace, London. Original Artwork: Engraved by S Reynolds after F Lock. Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images

Feb. 10, 1840: Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on their return from the marriage service at St. James’s Palace, London. Original Artwork: Engraved by S Reynolds after F Lock. Photo by Rischgitz/Getty Images

Instructor: Angela Thompson, instructor II in sociology and anthropology

Class times: Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 3:20 p.m.

Class size: 30 students of any major may enroll

Texts: Cinderella Dreams: The Allure of the Lavish Wedding by Cele C. Otnes and Elizabeth Pleck (University of California Press, 2003)

One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding by Rebecca Mead (Penguin Books, 2007)

Brides, Inc.: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition by Vicki Howard (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006)

Classwork: Students prepare for in-class discussions based on assigned reading and course material.

Students work in groups of two to four and present to the class a topic based on the semester material.

Three exams, including a final exam, throughout the semester to test the students’ knowledge of the course material