Why do we gossip?

Taught by: Gavin Weston
Date: 17 June 2021
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Venue: Goldsmiths, University of London

In this lecture, we will be exploring gossip as a socially meaningful act. While being labelled a gossip is generally not a positive thing, gossip is a social phenomenon that is almost as ubiquitous as religion or kinship globally, but unlike those two widespread forms of social organisation, gossip is surprisingly similar around the world. Why is it so common? What social function does it serve?

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