The media has continued to play a vital role in how cultures worldwide are portrayed.Through new forms of mass media, anyone has the ability to perceive their own views of a country, culture or ethnic group.Civil war in Egypt erupted a few months ago and American media, particularly CNN, portrayed the self-destructing Middle Eastern country as violent, ruthless and brutal.CNN reporter Anderson Cooper and other journalists made a bigger mess of things when they were attacked by Egyptian protesters.As an aspiring journalist, I cannot blame Cooper for his desires to report as thoroughly as possible but when you look at the other side of the equation; I can understand the Egyptians’ reasons for not wanting their burning capital city internationally televised.
Sociologists have come to the conclusion that the media are responsible for shaping popular culture.Television shows continue to air male characters more than female characters and although women may appear in music videos more frequently, they are often depicted wearing skimpy clothing to appeal to a male audience.The same cannot be said for males.
Deviance and crime have combined to create controversy in a number of different areas.Debate on criminal issues and controversies such as abortion, medical marijuana, the rights to possess a firearm and others has been the foundation of infinite protests throughout the past 5-10 years.Is it fair to consider conceding a baby prior to birth an act of crime?If medical marijuana can save a life is it criminal to purchase it?
Terrorism, which is defined by the text as “violent action to achieve political ends” is by far the most lethal method of crime.As one of the most, if not the most emerging issue in our day and age, terrorism is an act of violence which sociologists have studied extensively.Terrorism is by far the most deviant of crimes and the majority of people view it as a simple act of insanity.However, sociologists explain that to fully comprehend terrorism, it is essential to review the social structure of conflicts in which it emerges.
Many fail to address racism, segregation and discrimination as emerging issues in the world today.Americans consider African American segregation the only example of racism in the countries’ history.
Racism, segregation and discrimination occur worldwide as a matter of fact and a website I visited while covering Chapter 10 provided me with examples of racism in different regions of the world.Since 2000, the rise of neo-Nazism in Europe has had an impact on a number of countries.“Far from being a fringe activity, racism, violence and neo-nationalism have become normal in some communities. The problems need to tackled much earlier, in schools and with social programs.”
Racism in Asia takes place in a number of countries; Malaysia, Indonesia, and China to name a few.Until 2003, Malaysia enforced discriminatory laws limiting access to university education for Chinese students who are citizens by birth of Malaysia.
This article explains David Reimer’s story. His parents decided to raise him as a girl after his circumcision operation went awry. I chose this article because it provides a good example for the nature vs. nurture debate.
This photograph is appropriate for this chapter because it illustrates how gender identity has a strong effect on how people feel about their appearance. The text states that during adolescence, girls compare their bodies to others more than boys do and girls report having lower self-esteem by this time as well.
This is a funny gender conformity experiment used to demonstrate whether people conform to their gender role instead of their given gender. At the end of the video, it says that 27 out of 35 people conformed to the gender role.
This site examines the nature vs. nurture debate on the levels of IQ and personality traits. It also explains the moral considerations as well as philosophical considerations associated with this debate.
This may be a very beneficial sight to women who are looking to explore feminism and what kind of role it plays in the world. It also provides links to websites relevant to feminism and Women's Studies.
"Which contributes more to the area of a rectangle, its length or its width?"
- Donald Hebb
Psychologist Donald Hebb’s answer when asked which contributes more to a person’s growth, nature or nurture, stating that both can have equal effect on personality traits. I agree with Hebb and discovered through last week's discussion that although nurture may have more of an influence in my own life, nature has a role as well.
Gender may be one of the most important chapters in the textbook, when discussing. Gender can be a very controversial and touchy subject and can consist of a number of largely debated topics; homosexuality and feminism being two of the most significant. Although I have strong opinions when it comes to homosexuality, I chose to focus my attention on male and female identity. Like people of different races or ethnicity, women now have almost all of the same opportunities as men.
However, statistics prove that males have a higher median income than women. Men who earn a professional degree of some sort make almost $100,000 a year compared to women who make merely $65,000 per year. Nevertheless, it has been proven that women have a bigger role in society now than they did when the feminist movement began in the United States in 1910.
This New York Times article provides reasonable insight into issues such as immigration, race and ethnicity. The author sorts through census statistics and attempts to discover why Americans born in other countries no longer consider themselves white. This is an extremely interesting article and it provides some eye-opening statistics that surprise the majority of readers.
Each arm in this picture represents a different race. I found this picture perfect because it portrays the unity we can achieve through accepting other races. Race and ethnicity are the main components of Chapter 10 and this photo is an example of five people, more importantly five races who are defying stereotypes and racial barriers.
Probably the most interesting I found while working on this blog. Two Africans speak out about the use of the term "black". They explain that "black" is a derogatory term used by Africans and Africans-Americans who are, for whatever reason content with being labeled as "black" or "colored". The first speaker explains that Europeans are from Europe, Chinese are from China, Africans are from Africa, etc. but no country named Black exists and there's no reason for Africans or African Americans to receive the "black" label.
http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism
This website discusses racism as a whole and provides some information about the concept of race as most Americans look at it. The website does a wonderful job of sub-categorizing race into different regions of the world and information is given about racism in every continent. Links to articles and other pages about specific regions can also be found.
http://www.understandingprejudice.org/demos/
Where do you draw the line between something that's prejudiced and something that isn't? Through this website teachers and students alike are able to become more educated with the causes and consequences of prejudice. The website provides over 2,000 links to prejudice-related resources and provides interactive exercises that will further educate you about racism, segregation and discrimination.
"We must learn to live together as brothers (and sisters) or perish together as fools.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
I feel that this quote sums up the necessary adjustments Americans and people all over the world need to make to find an end to racism. During the King's days this was much bigger of a problem but it undoubtedly applies to certain parts of the world in today's day and age. As brothers we must accept anyone we are acquainted with, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity.
Race and ethnicity are two extremely fascinating topics to me and I chose Chapter 10 because of all the experience I've had with each topic. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area for the majority of my life, I've had the chance to witness diversity on a daily basis. I've learned an infinite amount of information about different races or ethnicity through friends, acquaintances and experiences. I feel fortunate and chose to focus mainly on race because it seems to be something my fellow students here in Moscow don't always know much about.
I realize most parts of Idaho are limited when it comes to diversity, making it hard for residents to fully appreciate different races and ethnicity. Unfortunately, I've seen numerous examples of racism since I moved to Northern Idaho for college and feel this is an issue that needs to be further addressed in this region of the United States. As the world continues to globalize, it will continue to diversify. Those who aren't as aware of this and those who fail to accept this will have to become educated to survive and succeed in this constantly changing world.
C E O Y W U K Z R A C I S M E U U
W P V O D R Y O B Y L W Z U B J Z
N O I T A N I M I R C S I D B Y Z
N O I T C A E V I T A M R I F F A
P K N T L O C R A X H C N K N T P
U K T W T Q E V G C T Z U D U P J
O E L U N O I T A Z I L A I C A R
R E G I U O I T P M P M C S S X H
G Y M G W G P U O R G C I N H T E
T C J E J E C I D U J E R P Y I X
N R A C I A L P R O F I L I N G A
A J U O R U K D F D L U P K Y J N
N W X N M E P Y T O E R E T S A B
I T S M I N O R I T Y G R O U P D
M V E F F F J Q J W D X B H S A A
O R S E G R E G A T I O N G X M V
D L P S D G Z P L T A F S P C U W
Affirmative Action- A method for opening opportunities to women and minorities that specifically redress past discrimination.
Racialization- A process whereby some social category, such as a social class or nationality, is assigned what are perceived to be race characteristics.
Discrimination- Overt negative and unequal treatment of the members of some social group or stratum solely because of their membership in that group of stratum.
Racial Profiling- The use of race alone as the criterion for deciding whether to stop and detain someone on suspicion of their having committing a crime.
Dominant Group- The group that assigns a racial or ethnic group to subordinate status in society.
Racism- The perception and treatment of a racial or ethnic group, or member of that group, as intellectually, socially, and culturally inferior to one's own group.
Ethnic Group- A social category of people who share a common culture.
Segregation- The spatial and social separation of racial and ethnic groups.
Minority Group- Any distinct group in society that shares common group characteristics and is forced to occupy low status in society because of prejudice and discrimination.
Stereotype- An oversimplified set of beliefs about the members of a social group or social stratum that is used to categorize individuals of that group.
Prejudice- The negative evaluation of a social group, and individuals within that group.
This article explains Durkheim's theory that deviance is a necessity in our society and it argues that this belief is "too narrow a framework for the study of deviant behavior".
This picture represents someone who is violating societies expected values and norms. Established rules and norms of a society are created by that society and what is deviant to one group may not be deviant to another.
This video, a commercial of a kid running over a toy squirrel with his car, further describes Durkheim's functionalist theory. Danny's actions of running over the squirrel may be considered deviant but are also a functional for society.
http://libertarianism.tripod.com/derek06.html
This site talks about the basics of understanding deviance and explains it is wrong to look at deviance in a negative manner. It also explains that there are two extremes to deviance and should both be looked at carefully before passing judgement.
The Students Guide to Sociology asks and answers a number of questions regarding deviance and social control. I was interested in the question that asked "How do the various theories explain deviance?" because it's hard to wrap your head around that deviance was defined differently by almost every sociologist who studied it.
Anything but Ordinary- Avril Lavigne
Sometimes I get so weird
I even freak myself out
I laugh myself to sleep
It's my lullaby
Sometimes I drive so fast
Just to feel the danger
I wanna scream
It makes me feel alive
Is it enough to love?
Is it enough to breathe?
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
Is it enough to die?
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please
To walk within the lines
Would make my life so boring
I want to know that I
Have been to the extreme
So knock me off my feet
Come on now give it to me
Anything to make me feel alive
Is it enough to love?
Is it enough to breathe?
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
Is it enough to die?
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please.
Let down your defences
Use no common sense
If you look you will see
that this world is a beautiful
accident turbulent suculent
opulent permanent, no way
I wanna taste it
Don't wanna waste it away
Sometimes I get so weird
I even freak myself out
I laugh my self to sleep
It's my lullaby
Is it enough?
Is it enough?
Is it enough to breathe?
Somebody rip my heart out
And leave me here to bleed
Is it enough to die?
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please
Is it enough?
Is it enough to die?
Somebody save my life
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please
I'd rather be anything but ordinary please.
"Anything but Ordinary" describes someone who doesn't follow the social norms her society has placed on her. Lavigne says that she can't live her own life without breaking out of the ordinary and would do anything to live not such an ordinary life. This theme is common in Lavigne's music and society often views her as someone who doesn't go along with the norms of society.
When we studied Chapter 7 earlier in the semester I enjoyed learning about both crime and deviance, how they act in our society and how sociologists view them. I never pictured deviance as something that would be functional in our society but understand and for the most part agree with many of his thoughts and theories regarding it. It's interesting to consider how future generations will define deviance and whether or not current deviant acts will still be deemed deviant in 50 or 100 years.
Crime, one form of deviance, is also significant because although the two may be similar, there are vast differences in each. Deviance will not always be considered crime but a crime will always be deviant because it violates a societies' designated laws. I wasn't aware of the different forms of crime ( personal, hate, property, victimless, organized) and wonder whether Durkheim and other sociologists would consider crime functional for a society. Crime is and will always be a significant aspect of our society and like deviance, it will be interesting to see what will be considered a "criminal act" years down the road.
I found this article, regarding popular culture and the potential negative effects it can have on today's youth, very interesting. The article was written in 2007and describes how a then 16-year-old was consumed by the music of The Beatles but rebels against popular culture by attending Christian protest rallies and concerts.
The Maasai tribe of Kenya and Tanzania are known for their unique lifestyle and unmatched culture. In the picture above, tribe members are shown doing the "jumping dance". This is a Maasai tradition and the man in the center of the circle jumps as high as he can while the surrounding spectators sing.
I found this video a perfect example of one of the issues discussed in Chapter 2. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own. This is a current problem we face in countries worldwide and the video effectively addresses the issue and describes what we need to do to prevent the rise of ethnocentrism.
http://www.ethnicmajority.com/media_home.htm
This website caught my attention because it focuses on diversity in the United States and how people of color can create opportunities for themselves. The site provides information and advice in a number of categories such as: Business, Politics, Housing, Media/Entertainment and Healthcare.
http://culturalpolitics.net/popular_culture
This Cultural Politics website describes the role popular culture has in our society and provides information about digital cultures, social movement and cultures, environmental justice and the cultural theory.
K'naan- Waving Flags (Official song of the 2010 World Cup)
As the official anthem of last summer's World Cup, this song discusses the fight for freedom through struggles, poverty and war. I find that this song perfectly represents one of the main goals of the Word Cup; coming together to temporarily abandon civil war, racism among other issues for a month.
I found both of the topics in this chapter very interesting and both seemed very applicable to my own life. I have had the chance to experience a number of different cultures with all the traveling my family has done. I enjoy learning about the way cultures function and how society embraces not only their culture but others as well. I think it's important to become familiar with the various types of culture, i.e. global culture, counterculture, dominant culture, etc. and understand how they function in our society.
As a Journalism and Mass Media major, it's obvious that I am passionate about the media's role in popular culture and culture in general. We are surrounded by the media daily, whether we realize or not its almost inescapable. Popular culture is also a part of our daily life and it's interesting to see the reaction the general public has to it. Our lives are influenced by the media and as the world continues to globalize, we will see the media represented more so than it is now.
Q C R X U F F V Z L U T W W P L Q E A F S
C M F T K E R U T L U C R A L U P O P H W
I E R U T L U C R E T N U O C R M G G K P
J A T H I E A K D K C K J H E A Y D I L A
P F F M D W Y T B L F M R O N A B Z V T T
M K K I T M A S S M E D I A L T T E S W P
W X U T N Y O H F K C O H S E R U T L U C
R E F L E C T I O N H Y P O T H E S I S C
L P J N N T F Q T Z E X T S G W L M H P L
D P I G E D T Z J L S I E B L H X M X W J
Z K E T D R D E H H O W A F W N C D Y G A
S A P I R T W H O R F H Y P O T H E S I S
C A H Z K Z S Q R K F B V J H Z G A C I Q
Y W J U M P X V X G Y P K O U O S K S I I
K A O V T N G J M Q P H W W V W S R T Z B
Y K V S R Y G O L O D O H T E M O N H T E
B O I T W T C K M C K L P K Q N T M W Y B
H C Q P S G M Q C F R A M H N M S R F R O
L T H A S U B C U L T U R E Z G N O X I I
M S I R T N E C O N H T E I S V E G B A L
W X I M M N B I H W Y H C H K U D H J X Z
Counterculture- Subculture created as a reaction against the values of the dominant culture
Norm- The specific cultural expectations for how to act in a given situation.
Culture Shock- The feeling of disorientation that can come when one encounters a new or rapidly changed cultural situation.
Popular Culture- The beliefs, practice, and objects that are part of everyday traditions.
Ethnocentrism- The belief that one's in-group is superior to all out-groups
Reflection Hypothesis- The idea that the mas media reflect the values of the general population.
Ethnomethodology- A technique for studying human interaction by deliberately disrupting social norms.
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis- A theory that determines other aspects of culture because language provides the categories through which social reality is defined and perceived.
Mass Media- Channels of communication that are available to very wide segments of the population.
Subculture- The culture of groups whose values and norms of behavior are somewhat different from those of the dominant culture.
