Imagining York: Discovering the Everyday

Explore the city of York through a fresh sociological lens

What can a single city reveal about our society? On this three-week course from the University of York, you’ll uncover how everyday life, from personal identity to public spaces, reflects broader cultural, political and economic changes.

You’ll be introduced to key sociological concepts, including C. Wright Mills’s idea of the sociological imagination, and examine how it helps explain the connection between personal stories and larger social patterns.

Explore identity, inequality and social divisions

From local landmarks to famous figures, you’ll investigate how York’s history and people offer insights into inequality experienced through issues like class, gender, and sexuality.

Through case studies like Anne Lister and places like the Shambles or York Minster, you’ll see how the city embodies stories of social change, exclusion and progress.

Examine how space and consumption reflect the past and present

Dive deep into the city’s public space—reveal competing views of heritage, deviance, morality and belonging. You’ll also analyse how consumption habits and cultural trends reflect changing technologies, colonial histories, and economic pressures.

Connect the past and present to ask: What can we learn about society from how we live day to day?

Learn with leading sociologists from the University of York

Gain new insights into your surroundings, wherever you live and be inspired to think like a sociologist.

On this course, you’ll be guided by experienced educators from the Department of Sociology, known for using innovative, public-facing teaching to explore everyday life.

By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped with tools to understand society more deeply and explore how your life connects with the lives of others and societal structures.

This course is ideal for prospective university students interested in studying sociology, particularly at the University of York. It’s also suitable for anyone with a general interest in people, identity, social issues, or the history of York.

This course is ideal for prospective university students interested in studying sociology, particularly at the University of York. It’s also suitable for anyone with a general interest in people, identity, social issues, or the history of York.

• Explain how the sociological imagination provides insight into society
• Develop an understanding of York as a microcosm of societal divisions and inequalities
• Explore everyday identity is a route to understand gender, sexuality and class
• Reflect upon how consumption practices reveal the impact of technology and the legacy of colonialism
• Investigate how public spaces and landmarks expose societal debates surrounding faith, crime and public health