Structural determinism
the view that out cultural outlooks and actions are direct results of the society, groups and organizations that we belong to"
-culture impact economy
Autonomy of culture
independence of culture from social structure
Human agency
used religion in church and work. Money collected was reinvested
-humans have the power to make things change
Durkheim: Sacred vs. Profane
-sacred: "awesome, powerful, respected, and feared phenomena that required special, ritualized treatment." Pg. 104
-profane: "ordinary phenomena that needed no special attention." Pg. 104
think religion
Social solidarity
sharing meaning of symbols and rituals; cohesion
think religion
Collective representation of society
-groups, like sacral phenomena, are both part of individuals and greater than any one person
-powerful, respected, awesome, feared
-(sacred) weddings, trials, harvests, elections, war, trade are critical to society
-(profane) collecting daily firewood or
Symbols and rituals
- promote social cohesion
-Lasting elements of religious life, serve severe social functions
-reminds individuals of their social places, and generates emotional, as opposed to purely utilitarian, commitment to the group 105
think religion
The sociology of money
-the very basis of modern economic exchange, is a perfect example of a culturally mediated economic phenomenon.
-believed to corrupt our thoughts as people become "money hungry"
-Zelizer argues: money has many cultural meanings that depend on people's soc
Cultural, Social, and Economic capital
-cultural: developed as a useful way of discussing the intricate relations between culture and social power.
-includes social variations in tastes in literature, music, fashion, gardening, sport, architecture, interior design, art, and many other domains.
Social reproduction
- social classes are produced through socialization process
-as powerful economic groups raise their offspring in schools and at home the cycle begins again
Habitus
a cultural point of reference that categories are experiences of social networks and social structures"
-everyone grows up with a world view
High culture vs. Popular culture
-high culture: traditional high culture is associated with distinguished art, literature, music and theatre
-is more inclusive than traditional humanities notions
-pop culture: "of the people"
-ranging from styles of body piercings to the evolution of bar
Cultural and social construction of social problems
-what are some social problems?
-drug use
-why are some social issues labeled problems and are of major concern to the general public of americans and other social issues not labeled as problems or do not get as much attention?
-powder cocaine (high)
-cra
Gatekeepers
schools, talent agents, and personal references that act as "filters" to reduce the number of people that can "make it"
-managers, talent scouts
Production of culture
culture is produced to meet the demands of the market
-to meet the demands of a market
Cultural distribution
through networks or organizations (Hilfiger sold in gap)
-companies work together to distribute cultural products
Social power
to have the ability to influence others even against their will" pg. 144
-make others do what you want them to do
Power prism
-political coercion: "Where the use or threat of force, violence and other elements of harm compel actors to submit to the will of other actors"
-economic exchange: to "influence other actors by offering some tangible good or service in exchange for compl
Social movements
conscious, relatively organized, collective efforts to bring about or resist social change" pg. 148
Counter movements
movements by those that want to maintain power
Resource mobilization: material, organizational, cultural
1. the number of people who actually are affected by the issue at hand
2. the degree to which these individuals perceive a grievance against authorities
3. the probability that those persons who are affected and perceive a common problem in fact will take
Bureaucracy
business-like permanent staff, hierarchy of formal and impersonal rules and procedures of operation and rational planning
Leadership
organizes and emotionally charges members, devise on going strategies and tactics
Examples of social movements that became social movement organizations
-national organization for women (NOW)
-greenpeace
-national organization for the reform of marijuana use (NORML)
-national association for the advancement of colored people (NAACP)
Importance of symbols
provide palpable external foci of attention that divert individuals self interests to larger social imperatives in economic and political life
Political alliances-
- alliances with external parties and organizations
-essential organizational resource is the ability of a social movement to forge political alliances
-this requirement tends to become more urgent as the movement gains steam and encounters opposition fro
Free-rider problem
- if one faction comes to believe that its efforts and goals can be achieved by the work of other factions, a version of this can occur.
-people may then give minimal effort and still try to reap the collective benefits other members of the movement are p
show clips
marry rich, WASPS
The state
an organization that has a monopoly over the legitimate use of violence within a given territory
individuals with power
political
-hitler
economic
-bill gates
cultural
-michael jordan
-john paul II
power is social because
1. it involves a relationship between the individual with power and those who assist, resist, or passively stand back
2.?
3. relations of power is a social relationship with those who are ruled
what relations of power did hitler have?
-political alliances
-institutionalized power with industrialists and labor unions
why states go to work?
-a way to show legitimacy of leaders to citizens that authorities are competent and have a right to lead
-social drama
warfare as a social drama
-nation is experiencing a difficult time
-leaders competancy is called into question
-citizens call for a demo of power
-war
U.S.
-americans military and crisis of legitimacy
-korean and vietnam war- "red scare"
-pres carters attempts to free hostages in iran
-the gulf war