Gemma Mangione

gmmangione@u.northwestern.edu
Advisor: Griswold

Areas of Interest

Culture; Art; Knowledge; Science, Technology and Medicine; Organizations; Qualitative Methods

Current Research:

I am primarily concerned with the interplay of science and art in the production of culture. My work examines situations of definitional competition, in which differently situated actors negotiate among diverse systems of knowledge.

To date I have found museums a rich site for sociological inquiry. I am currently expanding my study of art museum programs for people with Alzheimer’s to focus on similar programs in botanic gardens. This paper investigates how and when different actors deem the label of “therapy” appropriate for work with people with disabilities. I am in the beginning stages of a comparative study looking at variation in how art and science museums in the U.S. and Italy design their community outreach initiatives to legitimate themselves as public institutions.

I also have a sustained interest in the relationship between materiality and meaning. Presently, I am developing a paper comparing diverse approaches to “objecthood” across several subfields of sociology. With Wendy Griswold, I am exploring how the material aspects of exhibition design impact visitor experience in art museums.

Awards/Honors:

Northwestern University, Department of Sociology, 2010
MacArthur Foundation Summer Research Grant

Northwestern University, The Graduate School, 2009
Mellon Foundation Fellowship in Rhetoric and Public Culture

Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism, 2007
Cum laude, with departmental honors in art history
Kappa Tau Alpha

William Henry Exum Award

The intent of this prize is to honor the memory of William Henry Exum, a member of the Department of Sociology and the African American Studies Department, who died in 1986 at the age of 37. Exum was concerned with the quality of writing and research analysis in student papers. He was also interested in racial problems facing minority youths in higher education. This award was established as a means of continuing his goals of breaking barriers for all minorities.

The award submission deadline is April 27, 2012. All interested students should submit a 15-20 page paper, typed and double-spaced, on a topic dealing with race and ethnicity. Students are not limited to a sociological approach in preparing their submissions, nor is the award limited to sociology or social science majors.

The paper should include a cover sheet with the student's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, year in school, and major.

Three copies of the essay must be submitted by the announced deadline to the Exum Award - Department of Sociology, 1810 Chicago Ave., Evanston Campus or one copy by email to sociol@northwestern.edu.

This award is open to all undergraduate students from all disciplines.

Upcoming Events

COLLOQUIUM: Myra Marx Ferree, Sociology, University of WI-Madison
May 17, 2012 • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Culture and Society Workshop
May 17, 2012 • 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM