David Dickens, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Biography
David Dickens is the author of several books, including Las Vegas: The Social Production of an All-American City, and Postmodernism and Social Inquiry, which has also been translated into several languages, including Chinese and Korean. He is also the author of several dozen articles and book chapters, published in numerous journals, including Sociological Perspectives, Cultural Studies, Symbolic Interaction, Studies in Symbolic Interaction, and the International Journal of Comparative Sociology. Dickens’ areas of specialization include critical and postmodern theory, qualitative methods, commodity culture, and international development.
Recent Courses Taught
- SOC 795 — Seminar on Racial Capitalism
- SOC 795 — Seminar on Critical Theory
- SOC 701 — Logic of Social Inquiry
- SOC 497/697 — Celebrity Culture
- SOC 724 — Contemporary Sociological Theory
Current Research Projects
- Authenticity in the Postmodern City
This research focuses on the question of authenticity in postmodern urban areas by examining representations of Italian culture in Las Vegas.
Neglected Theorists of Color
This edited volume highlights the work of ten neglected social theorists of color whose work provides valuable insights into contemporary society and culture.
Electronic Dance Music: From Deviant Subculture to Corporate Culture Industry
This book provides an examination of commodification in the music industry through a case study of the development of electronic dance music.