Our graduate student, Edward Smith, published intriguing class materials titled "Teaching Durkheim's Sociology of Religion through Pokémon" at ASA TRAILS. In these materials Edward shows how to examine Emile Durkheim’s structural framework from his book on Elementary Forms of Religious Life by exploring Pokémon Platinum and its religious elements present within the game. Using Durkheim's theoretical framework from religion, Pokémon Platinum sheds light by making connections through the sacred and profane, totems, religion, magic, and rites. Though Pokémon Platinum features battling and capturing "pocket monsters," the game itself expands into a religious experience, one that isn't limited to any individual. The published materials include a class activity and full lecture notes with PowerPoint slides.
The Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology (TRAILS) is a peer-reviewed digital library of teaching resources created by the American Sociological Association (ASA). TRAILS provides a way for you to easily locate peer-reviewed teaching materials, showcase your teaching ideas, develop professionally, and join a community of scholarly teachers. You will find great assignments, syllabi, lectures, and other teaching ideas at TRAILS. TRAILS resources have been through a two-stage process of peer review using public criteria based on best practices in higher education.