Popular Culture

 

The idea of consumerism, that we need what we do not have, is put into our minds by media and various forms of advertisement. More fashion! More more more!

 Some women will go to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Females can buy into consumerism when they are convinced that new make-up products will make them look better than ever. When standing by one of these make-up counters I was shocked to hear the total of one lady's purchase.

 Expensive cars can often be seen as conspicuous consumption. It can be a way for people to show off their wealth, or in some cases for people to pretend they have wealth. 

 

Some people in our society believe that our self-worth is determined by our looks and how sexually attractive we are. That is why people are willing to spend $70 on shoes that supposedly give you a better butt, rather than putting the effort into exercise. The shape-up shoes are the new big thing among our society.

 

Everyone has different tastes in fashion, music, cinema, and other kinds of culture. This includes cars. While some people prefer to show off in brand new cars, others become consumed with the idea of the classics. 

Life at Home

 

 This couple's relationship is an example of the more common type of marriage, endogamy. My mother and my step-father are both from the same social group. Before marriage they lived in the same region and shared the same class, religion, education and nationality. 

The only legal form of marriage in our society is monogomy: the practice of being in a relationship with only one person at a time. I as well as everyone in my social network (with a few exceptions) practices this style of relationship.

 A nuclear family portrait on the beach. One heterosexual couple and their son.

 Perhaps if we were living in a different culture, it might be acceptable for all three of us to have a polygamous marriage. In this case it would be polygyny, where one man has multiple wives.

Even though it is usually the women who you would think to be in the kitchen doing the cooking at night, my step-father is the one after work who has the second shift of making the family a delicious dinner.

Gender and Sexual Identity

 

The media plays a huge part in our gender role socialization. This magazine shows the stereotypical gender roles with a picture of a heterosexual couple on their wedding day, as happy and beautiful as ever. 

 

Here's a picture of different gendered vitamins, one for women and one for men. Is it really necessary to have different daily multivitamins? Probably not. But there is a chance that if a man takes a woman's vitamin he just might grow boobs.

Homophobia is a term used for the fear of or discrimination against homosexuals or gender-inappropriate behavior. These two males are heterosexual, even though they are displaying gender-inappropriate behavior. But as the constructionist approach sees it gender is just a social construct after all.

 Gender role socialization is a life-long process and as depicted here starts early. As children we are shown what is right and what is wrong. Boys wear blue and girls wear pink. Boys wear shorts and girls wear skirts.

 

Here's another stereotypical example of gender roles. Betty Crocker and her 'new cookbook' is not trying to appeal to men. Women are the ones who should be in the kitchen cooking and baking for the family.

Race & Ethnicity

 

This is the one day out of the year where these guys actually present themselves according to their ethnic identity. St. Patrick's day is a great example of symbolic ethnicity. This is a special occasion when the Irish can be proud, but for the other 364 days out of the year their ethnic identity is irrelevant. 

 

This 'Japanese Lifestyle' store inside of the shopping mall could be interpreted at our society's attempt at multiculturalism.

 

 

Both of these signs on the fence of a local elementary school are examples of discrimination against different groups, skaters and smokers. 

This group of kids in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood are part of a social group that is probably considered the minority in our society. This does not mean that they are fewer in numbers, but that they have unequal access to power and resources that the dominant groups does.

Does this person have equal access to power in our society as everybody else? Probably not. This is because he carries unearned advantages in his Invisible Knapsack, such as being a heterosexual white male.

Social Class

 

This man is digging through a trash can in Moorpark and collecting cans and bottles to bring to the recycling center in exchange for a little bit of change. Inequality can be seen everywhere, even in little ol' Moorpark. 

 This may look like a bunch of garbage on the sidewalk, but it's actually a human being wrapped in some sort of aluminum insulation in order to fight the cold in the streets of Boston. The fact that this is right outside of a Bank of America makes it an even better depiction of inequality; everyone has to walk past this sleeping person in order to take money out of their bank accounts or deposit their paychecks.

 

Here's another depiction of the culture of poverty in our society. This woman sits in that chair all day long, shaking her cup and saying, "more food" while she already has some in her hand. It is like she has accepted her fate and would rather sit their and beg than try to improve her situation

This young middle-class male sits in the subway with a picture of a homeless person posted behind him. This shows more inequality in society, but at least people are recognizing it and putting it out their in hopes to make people more aware. 

 

 The American Dream. If you work hard enough, you'll be able to live in a nice tract home like this one here. This is a good example of your average upper-middle class family's home.

 

This house on the other hand is most likely occupied by a working class family. Most houses in this part of town look similar to this one. It is very easy to see the differences, not only in size but appearance too, between this house and the previous one.

Deviance and Conformity

 

Now in Moorpark smoking a cigarette in a public place is against the law. Although it may not seem like it these kids are committing a crime, or a social norm that has been made into a law. 

Deviance is the violation of a social norm that causes negative reactions. Deviance depends on the reactions and not actually the quality of the act itself. My friend Michael would be considered a deviant in the picture since he is dressed like a female. A guy who wears a dress in public is bound to receive some negative reactions.

 Erving Goffman used the term stigma to describe any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group's identity. The handicap symbol on a license plate represents a physical impairment that could be seen as a physical stigma.

 

The police force is one of the major forms of law enforcement in society today. They are part of the set of institutions that make up the criminal justice system. 

One approach to punishment is to use the threat of penalties in order to discourage people from committing crimes. This sign in the grocery store is a form of deterrence. They put this up in hopes that someone with the intent to steal would become frightened and lose motivation upon seeing this sign.

Life in Groups

 This picture is a good example of Georg Simmel's idea of the 'stranger'. Although these boys are physically right next to each other, they are psychologically far away from each other. It also puts into play the paradox that in this day and age even though we are more connected with one another through the internet and social networking sites we are actually more isolated than ever.

 

This picture shows the smallest possible social group- the dyad. This is the most intimate form of a social group, but also the most unstable. If one of these boys decided to veer off of the path the group would no longer exist.

 

In this group there are three different relationships, forming a triad. It is more stable than a dyad because even if one of them decided to stop playing their instrument, the other two would still be able to carry on with each other. 

 

A reference group is a group that provides a standard of comparison against which we evaluate ourselves. Unfortunately we can often times compare ourselves to standards that are too high or even unrealistic. For example: comparing yourself to a model or a mannequin. 

In the company of your closest friends, or your primary group, is where you often feel the most connected and have the greatest feelings of acceptance.

The Self and Social Interaction

 

Faith, family and friends. Sounds to me like agents of socialization. These three things are the social groups and institutions that provide structured situations in which socialization occurs. They makes us who we are.

 Schools are one of the agents of socialization that shape us in many different ways. Schools provide a hidden curriculum; they not only teach us reading, writing and math but also give us tools necessary for future success. 

Religion is another important aspect that contributes to socialization. For many people church is a huge part of their lives and they internalize the beliefs and values that it holds.

Peers are another agent of socialization that contribute a great deal to the person that you grow up to be. They have a great influence on you, whether it be good or bad. We tend to share the same beliefs with our peers and begin to surround ourselves with ones that we admire and want to become more alike.

 

 Charles Cooley used the phrase "looking glass self" to refer to the idea that our self perceptions are based on others' evaluations of us. A grade on a test is an evaluation that could affect the way we view ourselves.

When I write in a journal, I am often reflecting on myself. This conscious reflection is an example of Mead's phases of the self.

Culture

 While visiting Boston I came across this guy giving a tour of the city. As you can see, he isn't your average tour guide. This guy dressed up as Paul Revere is giving these tourists the full effect of Boston and all of the American history and culture that holds it's roots their. He's a great display of how much Boston, as well as all American culture, prides and values our countries early beginnings.

 

Chinatown is a place that's overflowing with culture. A great way to experience some material culture as well as practice cultural relativism is to try some authentic food that you never thought you'd eat before.

 One of the biggest factors that is changing culture today: technology. Computers are becoming more and more of a necessity in our day-to-day lives than they've ever been before. Technology is letting us stay connected with the whole world around us.

Can't miss those beautiful golden arches, especially when you drive past them every couple of miles. McDonald's has to be one of the most infamous depictions of American culture today. Doesn't that make you proud?

Oh look, another McDonald's. We even post our countries flag right next to theirs. It's all about freedom and Big Macs.

 

 Another good depiction of what American culture and values: big loud trucks.

Theories & Theorists

How do I know that this tea is too hot for me to drink? Because I can see the steam rising from it and I can feel the heat emanating off of the ceramic cup. Auguste Comte with his theory of positivism would argue that this is the only valid way to gain knowledge: through sense perceptions. 

 The city of Camarillo. In Emile Durkheim's eyes this would be a type of organic solidarity. Our society today is based on a division of labor that creates interdependence and individual rights. Although we all work to support ourselves we still have much reliance on others in society.

Another way to look at organic solidarity is the human body. Our bodies are comprised of many specialized systems and organs that carry out specific functions. They all work together to keep the body running; without one there could not be another.

 

Quick and easy deposits. That's what the Automatied Teller Machine provides his customers with. Oops... did I say his? No human interaction necessary. Max Weber was right when he said that disenchantment is everywhere these days.

 More disenchantment. You don't even need to talk to the clerk at 7/11 anymore if you want to test your odds at becoming a millionaire.

Here's a standardized and uniformed McDonald's employee efficiently giving the hungry customer a large amount of predictable food in the shortest amount of time possible. Quantity is quality after all, right? That's what we tend to think. Rationalization can be easily observed at fast food places everywhere.