Hey guys!
An important part of sociology is the discussion of poverty. The culture of poverty is a theory that describes poverty as a never-ending cycle. Many sociologists believe that people are stuck in it for their entire lives and the generations after, while others believe it's only temporary and easy to break out of.
People in poverty are born into it. They accept it as a part of them, and do not think they can get out. Thus, they act the part and assume their role. They are socialized into it. This sparks the cycle which the underclass is stuck in. This means if you have poor parents, you're bound to be poor, and your children, etc.
I don't believe that poverty is a never ending cycle. If you're determined to break your role, you can. Celebrities do it all the time, srsly.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
STUFF
Hey guys! So this week my blog is about the sociological perspective to discuss forces and institutions that shape the popular culture.
WELL. Like Omar, I'm going to discuss the High Culture (capital letters for emphasis). What is the high culture, you ask? I shall tell you, good reader!
High culture refers to the culture of the elite. They are the refined, educated, and let's not forget... wealthy!
So basically, high culture is the culture of the super rich.
The term was introduced by Matthew Arnold. The theory that a high culture exists describes it as the best, most refined culture. Everyone else is common folk. Those of the high culture run everything, while we follow like cattle. This fits hand in hand with the Elite Theory.
The Elite Theory contends that a small minority--the super rich and elite--holds the most power and basically run everything.
So, how does this apply to the topic? Well, the high culture (super rich) decide what is popular. The high culture decides what is portrayed through the media. The high culture creates institutions that the common folk use.
Common trends in art and music is decided by the high culture. After they do it, then the popular culture wants it. Look at those expensive designer clothes/purses poor women (like my mother -_- ) want so badly. They see the high culture women wearing them first.
WELL. Like Omar, I'm going to discuss the High Culture (capital letters for emphasis). What is the high culture, you ask? I shall tell you, good reader!
High culture refers to the culture of the elite. They are the refined, educated, and let's not forget... wealthy!
So basically, high culture is the culture of the super rich.
The term was introduced by Matthew Arnold. The theory that a high culture exists describes it as the best, most refined culture. Everyone else is common folk. Those of the high culture run everything, while we follow like cattle. This fits hand in hand with the Elite Theory.
The Elite Theory contends that a small minority--the super rich and elite--holds the most power and basically run everything.
So, how does this apply to the topic? Well, the high culture (super rich) decide what is popular. The high culture decides what is portrayed through the media. The high culture creates institutions that the common folk use.
Common trends in art and music is decided by the high culture. After they do it, then the popular culture wants it. Look at those expensive designer clothes/purses poor women (like my mother -_- ) want so badly. They see the high culture women wearing them first.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Symbolic Interactionism
Symbolic interactionism.
For starters, let me explain the definition of our topic this week. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that "places emphasis on micro-scale social interaction to provide subjective meaning in human behavior."
That sounds like giberish. Basically, symbolic interaction portrays a family as a unit of interacting "personalities." It describes the ways that people interact through "symbols" (such as words, gestures, rules, and roles).
It was developed by Herbert Blumer. He set three basic ideas of the perspective:
-"Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things."
-"The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with others and society."
-"These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process used by the person in dealing with the things he/she encounters."
So, society supplies you with a role, and you act accordingly or "deviantly." By integrating ourselves into society and learning how to interact with others and our roles, we develop our sense of self.
In my opinion, symbolic interactionism is a justified part of sociology. Even if the theory lends itself to psychology, it explains how people act and why. Seeing as sociology is the study of the functioning of human society, this seems like a pretty important aspect of that (understanding why people act the way they do/how they are integrated in society and their roles.)
For starters, let me explain the definition of our topic this week. Symbolic interactionism is a sociological theory that "places emphasis on micro-scale social interaction to provide subjective meaning in human behavior."
That sounds like giberish. Basically, symbolic interaction portrays a family as a unit of interacting "personalities." It describes the ways that people interact through "symbols" (such as words, gestures, rules, and roles).
It was developed by Herbert Blumer. He set three basic ideas of the perspective:
-"Humans act toward things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things."
-"The meaning of such things is derived from, or arises out of, the social interaction that one has with others and society."
-"These meanings are handled in, and modified through, an interpretive process used by the person in dealing with the things he/she encounters."
So, society supplies you with a role, and you act accordingly or "deviantly." By integrating ourselves into society and learning how to interact with others and our roles, we develop our sense of self.
In my opinion, symbolic interactionism is a justified part of sociology. Even if the theory lends itself to psychology, it explains how people act and why. Seeing as sociology is the study of the functioning of human society, this seems like a pretty important aspect of that (understanding why people act the way they do/how they are integrated in society and their roles.)
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