Sociological Reflection - 1052 Words

At the beginning of the semester, I knew very little about sociology or even what it was about. I just knew I needed to take the class for my degree plan to transfer to a four-year university and that I would be doing a lot of reading about different terms and theories of society. However, this first month of class has helped me improve my understanding of what sociology is about and shown me how my personal society has impacted the way I view society. Not only did I learn about the relationships between society and myself, but I have also learned different concepts that have helped me gain a better understanding of how society works. There are three specific sociological concepts that has helped me improve my understanding of the relation†¦show more content†¦You can see antisocial behaviors everywhere; when you go to a restaurant, or when you’re walking around a city, people are always looking down at their phones instead of interacting with the people they’r e with. The second concept I want to talk about is virtual communities. Virtual communities are social groups whose interactions are mediated through information technologies, particularly the internet. Like modernism, virtual communities are very dependent on technology and the internet. Since science and technology has advanced in the past decade, people don’t need to go to different places to meet different people and can meet others over different social media platforms or even video games. Sometimes, those people met over the internet can become very close friends. For example, I play a lot of video games and I have acquainted myself virtually with many people playing those games. Some of them I even ended up meeting in real life and are still friends with today. Virtual communities have become such a social norm, that soon, people will have friends all over the internet. I think the aspect of virtual communities is good for society, because it allows people to have a greater awa reness of other cultures all over the world. With more insight of how other societies and cultures operate, there is a greater chance to expand ones own socialShow MoreRelatedSociological Reflection938 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferently with some of the things I have learned throughout the course. A lot of the sociological concepts that I have learned have impacted my way of thinking in a positive manner. Every new unit that we are taught is an eye opener for me because of how enlightened I have become from viewing myself and society by more of an open mind. Concepts that have been an eye opener to me since the previous section reflection include blah, the different types of social classes, and lastly culture appropriationRead MoreSociological Reflection1258 Words   |  6 Pagesimagine. To be more specific there were actually ten topics that I learned in this course that was very important to me. Those topics were: crime, deviance, bureaucracy, nature of science, philosophy, relig ion, common sense, scientific statements, sociological ideas, and core american values. 1.During the beginning of this semester we discussed the key characteristics of science how science was different from philosophy, how is science different from religion, make five scientific statements thatRead MoreC. Wright Millss Sociological Imagination1301 Words   |  6 PagesThe sociological imagination, a concept coined by C. Wright Mills, is defined as, â€Å"the awareness of the relationship between personal experience and wider society.† The sociological imagination is not an innate way of thinking, therefore its inverse is commonly referred to as the ordinary way of thinking. People who think ordinarily, do not make connections between what is happening in their own milieu and what is happening in the larger society they live within. The memoir of Michael Patrick MacDonaldRead MoreThe Argument of Sociology is Based on Relationships Essay694 Words   |  3 Pageswe can understand that a Sociological argument must address a relationship between two or more variabl es in its claim, i.e. â€Å"does birth order affect social attitudes?† (Krippner, 2009). The next step in a Sociological argument is to establish a mechanism. This is incorporating the â€Å"how† and â€Å"why† aspects into the variable. (Krippner, 2009) In the Toulmin’s argument model, this step would be considered the grounds of the argument. When creating an argument from a sociological perspective we must alsoRead MoreA Critical Study Of Lareau s Reflection931 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Lareau, class positions have a very strong influence and control over the life of the family precisely childrearing. In the critical study of Lareau’s reflection, the language that we use, the time that we spend, and the influence of kin ties are very important in the upbringing of our children. Basically she focused on the middle class, working class, working poor, for blacks and whites. Sociologist have defined this classes: â€Å"Middle class is composed of â€Å"white collar† workers withRead MoreSociology and Psychology 823 Words   |  4 Pageswhich social structure and institutions affect our everyday life. Sociological imagination was founded by C. Wright mills in the 1950`s it is an overall understanding of that some of the things that happen in society may lead to a particular outcome. Mills said it is â€Å"the vivid awareness of the relationship between experience and wider society.† sociological imagination can also be defined as the ability to look at how sociological situations can unfold due to how everyone is different. The way weRead MoreAnalysis Of Man In The Mirror1192 Words   |  5 Pagesthe mirror. The song man in the mirror is inspirational about making a positive impact and personal redemption in the world. It was released in 1988. This catchy song tries to explain that changing the world is possible (Wallerstein 2). Many soci ological concepts are displayed by Michael Jackson in the context of song’s lyrics. The band of the song tries to express their concerns with the actions and views of the world of the present day. Basically, the band reflects upon the worlds realism asRead MoreAn Sociological Study And What We Call Sociological Imagination Essay736 Words   |  3 Pagesneeded, which is the basis for the sociological study and what we call sociological imagination. The sociological imagination are the fundamental features of intellectual endeavor and cultural sensibility. The ability of the imagination is able to move from a social perspective to another. In our reality there is a man / society interrelation - I / the world. The knowledge of that relationship is the subject of our study. The distinction with which the sociological imagination works is born betweenRead MoreIs There A Sociology Of Love?1046 Words   |  5 Pagessexual relationships Sociological perspectives are theories that we use in the sociological world to view our social environment. These are principles set in sociology to answer, illustrate, describe or relate to a certain phenomenon, to give us a perception on a subject. The sociology theories are to enable us to analyse, predict or explain our social sphere. There are macro and micro level analysis of how perspectives work. I am going to evaluate contrasting sociological perspectives to assess

Essay on Taking a Look at African-American Cinema

The United States has long been a country that has accepted that change is a necessity for prosperity and growth. However, each change within the nations history was hard fought against those who resisted such change either through racism, bigotry, and blatant discrimination. African American cinema is enshrouded in history that depicts these themes of racism, struggle, and deprivation. Yet, this same cinema also shows scenes of hope, artistic spirit, intellectual greatness, and joy. Black actresses, actors, directors, producers, and writers have been fighting for recognition and respect since the great Paul Robeson. The civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s was fueled by black cinema through films like A Raisin in the Sun.†¦show more content†¦Often in many films that undermine African Americans, they are depicted as thiefs, murders, or unintelligent. These images are used to show that African Americans are unlike their white counterparts. According to Friedman, Thi s formulation undermines the racially and sexually based violence toward African Americans, wiping out the memory of rape, castration, and lynching of slaves that occurred in the past (Friedman). The development of African American films, or films that truly put African Americans in any type of positive light did not really start to occur until the 1970s or 1980s. Before then films were often negative in spirit. Paula Massood describes the Hollywood depictions of African Americans in the previous era as, failing to recognize the sociopolitical changes in the American landscape. African American characters most often appeared within a southern setting, largely ignoring the black city space and culture that figured in the lives and the imaginations of a vast majority of African Americans (Massood). However, in the following years the development and progression of African American films was able to be seen. First, it is important to note that black films do not necessarily need to hav e black directors. Arguably, one of the most comedic black films is none other than Coming to America featuring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Directed by the same individual that made the iconic college fraternity movie AnimalShow MoreRelatedModern Cinema And Its Effects On American Cinema1469 Words   |  6 PagesWorld Cinema is a term which questions the dominance of American Cinema. It is a Transnational Cinema, where many different nationalities come together as one. American Cinema, i.e. Hollywood, is considered the ‘norm’ to society, as these are the films that are shown frequently in cinemas. Large cinema chains, such as Odeon or Vue typically only show films distributed by an American production company, therefore this is all we are really aware of, for example, ‘Warner Brothers’ or ‘Marvel’. HoweverRead MoreEssay on Portrayal of Black Women in Media1635 Words   |  7 PagesThe Portrayal of African-American Women in Media The stereotypical misrepresentations of African-American women and men in popular culture have influenced societal views of Blacks for centuries. The typical stereotypes about Black women range from the smiling, a sexual and often obese Mammy to the promiscuous Jezebel who lures men with her sexual charms. However, the loud, smart mouthed, neck-rolling Black welfare mother is the popular image on reality television. These images portrayed in mediaRead MoreBlack Stereotypes Of Modern Media1481 Words   |  6 Pagesis believed that stereotypes about African Americans began in the United States around the 18th century. Anti-Black stereotypes arguably the most developed racist stereotypes in racial framing and have been used as foundations for the capture, enslavement, and later, the subjugation of African American people. Stating that stereotypes are just a joke is an understatement of the consequential after – math racial images and stereotypes have on the African American po pulation. Even stereotypes that areRead MoreAnalysis Of The Film Blaxploitation Films And Chappelle s Show 1633 Words   |  7 PagesWeekly Writing 3 Throughout history, American society has famously taken advantage of non-European cultures and traditions for their own entertainment. Major media companies, colleges, and athletic organizations have famously exploited the cultures and stereotypes of Native American’s and African Americans for the sole purpose of profit and increased entertainment value. In American society, there has been the era of â€Å"Blaxploitation films† in which African American’s society was shown through raunchyRead MoreThe Birth Of A Nation1188 Words   |  5 Pageshistory of cinema, is only about to get more complex and chaotic. The Birth of a Nation was originally the title of D.W. Griffith’s 1915 racist propaganda film about the rise of the Ku Klux Klan who â€Å"saved† the South from being dictated by blacks during the Reconstruction era when the North tried to rebuild the South after the Civil War. Now, that title poises a new movie written, directed, produced, and starring actor Nate Parker that dramatizes the 1831 slave rebellion led by enslaved African-AmericanRead MoreRepresentation Of Diversity : The Birth Of A Nation Essay1449 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals of different cultural backgrounds. Since it was first creation media has been a medium for the transference and reaffirmation of racially motivated ideologies. One of the first films â€Å"The Birth of a Nation† was created to represent African Americans as predators, and menaces to society. Media plays such a large role our everyday lives. We get our news, and events about everything occurring in the world around us through the media. For this very reason the way in which media outlets chooseRead More12 Years a Slave and Crossing the River: Postcolonial Critique1155 Words   |  5 Pagespolitical, cultural and economic ways of Great Britain, imperialism remained as a consequence of the human colonialism of slavery. Steve McQueen’s adaptation of 12 Years a Slave dep icts the legacy of slavery and racism, and its relation to the African American diaspora. Through the collapse of identity and white prevalence, 12 Years a Slave subverts order and chaos in postcolonial America with efforts to decolonize the mind. The film offers an autobiographical account of a freed black man, SolomonRead MoreMovie Preservation And Public Access Before The National Film Preservation Board2748 Words   |  11 PagesPreservation Board in 1993. â€Å"Preservation without access is pointless,† the quote says. Film is one area where preservation requires presentation after the fact. The mention of certain films being given a new restoration or a new print scan excites cinema lovers and researchers alike, due to the fact that film has not been as meticulously preserved in the past as it is now. Rapidly evolving techniques in how filmmakers shoot films is changing. David Lynch, the director of Blue Velvet (1986) and MulhollandRead MoreFactors Limiting the Growth of Film Industry in Kenya3567 Words   |  15 Pagesfinancial backers. Technology, finding an audience .This paper is going to look at the factors limiting the growth of film industry in Kenya.. A Brief History of Film in Kenya Film in Kenya, until recently, has been marked by external film industries using Kenya as a location to tell their own stories. According to the Kenya Film Commission’s website (2012), the first Hollywood productions in Kenya came in the 1930s, African Holiday, Stanley and Livingstone, and Trader Horn among them. MemorableRead MoreRacial Stereotypes Of Film, Movie, Films Like The Avengers Or The Twilight Vampire Series1959 Words   |  8 Pagesselection of Oscar nominees (Donnelly 2016). As a result, many â€Å"mainstream† films look to target young males and females, for example, films like The Avengers or the Twilight vampire series. Taking all of this into account, Black film has transcended over time to change the way African Americans are viewed and take control of their own narrative. However as independent Black films seek to influence this change and look to challenge the dominate of White Hollywood, directors of Black films have may

The Theory of the Canadian Politics Free Essays

Power and control is what the Canadian government try†s to establish. Government engagement in business is becoming too strong as â€Å"in 1992, 6 of Canada†s 100 largest corporations were operated by, government or government agencies throughout Canada†, (Canadian Democracy pg. 88). We will write a custom essay sample on The Theory of the Canadian Politics or any similar topic only for you Order Now The problem with government control in business is that it restricts sole proprietors from investing in certain aspects of business such as Ontario†s liquor industry. In order to restrict government control of business three issues need to be taken into consideration; laws allowing privatization on crown corporations, more government attention establishing social issues that are out of reach to Canadian entrepreneurs for example education and health care. Furthermore incorporated laws need to be developed in order to minimize government control. As Canada moves into the 20th century economic policies are becoming too government controlled and as a result of this Canada is leaning towards a government run bureaucracy. Minimal government control of Canada†s business will contribute significantly to a more prosperous Canadian economy. Which is why it is important for government control to be minimal and allow for privatization of crown corporations. In Ontario liquor sales are down 22% compared to a provinces such as Quebec who have a privatized liquor industry. Since Ontario currently has a greater population than Quebec, obviously liquor sales are higher due to privatization of the industry, which allows more business to be established which makes it more convenient for the consumer to buy because there are many more liquor stores. However the liquor industry is only one of the primary companies that are government controlled. â€Å"Canadians who buy their gas at Petro Canada who watch CDC, TVO or Radio Quebec or who watch other provincial educational T. V networks, who travel Via rail or who pay electricity bills†(Canadian Democracy), are all contributing to government run alliances. To prove privatization has been successful the Quebec liquor industry, as well as the MBA programs at Universities such as Queens and McMaster are both that privatization is a success. Since the government was unable to fund such programs to it†s potential, privatization was an obligation in order to have an efficient program (statistics shown on Queens and McMaster university web pages). Students in the MBA programs at these schools agree that privatization was effective as they now have more advanced resources to work with. Clearly facts have proven that a privatized business/program/industry, is more beneficial not only a Canadian economy but as well as society. Another problem that Canadian†s face is that the government doesn†t focus enough of his attention on social issues concerning Canadians such as; education, health care, environment, welfare, foreign inspections on imports and Income tax. Many of Canada†s collage and university students are moving to the United States because the job opportunities are more abundant and income taxes are much lower. â€Å"Because the bulk of the education is paid for by the government (taxpayers) we are effectively subsidizing US industry by providing skilled labor. Many conservative people argue that this is one reason why students should bear the entire cost of their education. This alternative would close the post-secondary door on many poor people in this country† (www. watleo. ca/~cdsmith/txs/education). An alternative is that the government should turn aside the money that they are currently paying colleges and universities into student loans. Once the student graduates and receives employment this loan could be paid back in the form of income taxes. However if the student decides to work in the US their income tax will no longer compensate for the student loan, as they will have to pay off the loan personally. This method of educational funding would increase the number of students attending post secondary education because finance is a capital reason why some students do not attend collage or university. Another issue facing the Canadian education system is private schools vs. public schools. Canadian statistics prove that students attending private schools are more likely to attend university compared to people enrolled in the public system. The government needs to offer better educational funding in order to provide additional teachers to cut class sizes, as well as more resources. These changes will decrease class size, which will offer more one on one student to teacher attention that will help students prepare for a higher education. Healthcare is another major social issue that the government needs to establish; it is important for Canada to reduce the cost of basic healthcare services. Although Canada†s healthcare administration costs are low compared to the US, the US is associated with higher levels of medical research and development as well as increased amounts of advanced equipment i. e. â€Å"the city of Philadelphia has more MRI machines than all of Canada combined†(www. watleo. uwaterloo. ca/cdsmith. health. html. com). In Canada there are many people who abuse the healthcare system, in order to stop this, government should stop charging a basic fee for medical services and offer a tax refund for those who do not use the medical service provided. This would increase the efficiency of the current universal medical system in Canada and wouldn†t cost the government any money, as the refund would be proportional to the savings, because not as many people would then use the medical system. In addition to social issues in need of government assistance, environmental funding is needed to research issues such as air pollution, water conditions, the ozone and animal habitat which is always an on going environmental issue. On the topic of environment and health, the Toronto Star reported that inspection laws associated with NAFTA need to be stricter as poisonous strawberries imported form Mexico are currently being sold in the Canadian market. The National Post is reporting that 85% of Canadians are upset by the amount of money they pay in tax. StatsCan figures released on April 14th state that Canadians incomes are not keeping pace with economic growth. â€Å"We†re all working harder than ever and we†re not seeing our take home pay rise. It†s got to stop. Governments must take action to cut taxes and increase real take home pay†(Ontario PC Party). The government also needs to flatten income taxes because each province in Canada pays a different income tax rate Quebec than BC being the highest. We could also lower our income taxes if we were to be like the US and impose income tax on inheritance and lottery winnings, which would allow government to reduce personal income tax. A further social government issue that needs to be worked on is welfare. Welfare laws need to be modified because people on welfare have no incentive to look for a job or enroll in training. Welfare fraud is a big issues in some provinces of Canada (fraud and welfare abuse cost Ontario taxpayers an estimated $100 million last year), as well Canada needs to eliminate welfare payments to jail inmates as this is contributing to the millions of dollars wasted each year. It is made clear through the facts and evidence stated why the government needs to focus more upon social issues such as welfare, taxes, education, healthcare and foreign import laws. These government run programs are out of reach to entrepreneurs. Thus Canada needs the government to concentrate and control theses issues, rather than infringing upon Canadian business and economy. Lastly Since research has proven no laws limiting legitimate government control over large companies these laws need to be established and enforced because the government already has to much control over the Canadian economy. Laws need to be created in order to monitor government control and creation of monopolies. Trough extensive research currently there were no laws found that entail government control of business. Government already has a big impact on the pass of laws so this could be why there are no laws limiting their control of business i. e. Ontario liquor, CBC, Via rail, TVO, Petro Canada etc. However the part of business the government must stay in charge of are companies that produce money, the mint, nuclear power plants, army, police forces etc. These are all government run agencies that can not be privatized due to obvious reasons. If anyone could produce money than the Canadian dollar would have no value and the Canadian economy would crash, i. e. the Russian economy. The issue concerning too much government control over business that can be run by entrepreneurs can be resolved by passing â€Å"fair† laws concerning government control over business. This law would limit the amount of control and what the government can control in the Canadian economy. In conclusion as facts have proven above Canadian economic policies are becoming too government controlled, which is resulting in a government run bureaucracy. As government monopolies are becoming to strong it begins to decrease entrepreneurial opportunities for Canadian citizens and is why all business should be privatized. If the government were to allow privatization of some industries it would allow for more job opportunity, profit and a better Canadian economy. As well the government should concentrate more on social issues concerning Canadians such as healthcare, education, taxation etc, these issues could be emphasized on more by privatizing some crown corporations. Lastly law issuing limiting government control is allowed will result in a more prosperous economy. Therefore if all of these issues are handle more efficiently as outlined than Canada†s economy will be booming and it will create more opportunity in the job market for Canadian citizens. 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