Socialization.

1. Summarize ‘Killing us softly.’ (1-2 paragraphs)

‘Killing us softly’ is a documentary film focusing on the perception of women in modern society, and subsequently, altering their behavior and setting an established ideal which they are expected to follow. In the film, the speech focuses on the display of sexual objections of women throughout the recent decades, stating that the advertisements often set a specific yet frequently unobtainable standard of appearance and behavior for women of all ages. Additionally, the speech shows several examples to state that the same standards do not apply to men, who are generally portrayed as the dominant gender.

2. Summarize a Call to Men. (1-2 paragraphs)

In “A call to Men,” Tony Porter uncovers and explains the inner structure of an average man’s behavior and perceived role in modern society. He focuses on established values of the so-called “man box’’, focusing on how the box limits a male’s ability to express, and consequently feel emotion. He uses several prominent examples from his life to analyze cases in which the standards of the “man box” were challenged by unusual and/or deeply emotional circumstances, such as the death of family member, or the exploitation of a mentally handicapped female.
3. Explain how both video relate to our chapter on Socialization. (1-2 paragraphs)

According to George Herbert Mead’s theory, there are three stages in learning and perception. Since we are very young, we imitated how our parents think or behave without knowing or understanding why they are doing. We’ve imitated people who are socialized in certain ways. Finally, we will be the ones who shape our identity in the society. This kind of procedure (socialization) is constantly happening throughout our relationship with primary socialization groups and second socialization groups. Men or women are socialized by how we are taught from experiences. For example, “mama’s boys” are socialized in a different way. Aside from the matter of right or wrong, they are socialized with a mom more than anyone else. Thus, it shows that people who we interact with is very important in socialization.

4. Find one picture that represents the ways that boys and girls are socialized? (E.G. toys, TV, products etc.)

The media strike in Korea

             In Korea, a big issue is going on right now. There are three major broadcasting stations, which all go on strike, so the production was halted. They are against Government’s unreasonable politics about the press. The Korea Government tries to suppress and violate the freedom of speech. They fire people who are against their politics. It hasn’t been performed that largely and unusually. Aside from the fact itself, it shows ‘Conflict pattern of Social interaction’ very well. In fact, these broadcasting stations are competitors to each other, yet they band together by the strike, and this solidarity helps people stay stronger against the opposition. Citizens are fully supporting the strike as much as celebrities, directors, and journalists. I hope people in charge listen to their words carefully soon.

FALLING IN LOVE AND LOVING

BY. FRANCESCO ALBERONI

I thought what to write on blog for this week thoroughly. Honestly, I couldn’t come up with any idea, so I just quit thinking and started reading Prof. Applewhite’s new post on his blog. While I was writing a comment on his blog, I could come up with an interesting idea, which was buried in the past. I was talking about the correlation between sub-culture and dominant culture. In fact, I claimed that that correlation exists in any relationship, even though it is an emotional relationship between two people. It reminds me of one book, which I read in the past, called ‘Falling in love and loving’ by Francesco Alberoni. The author hypothesizes the procedure of “falling in love” is beyond sexual sublimation, Psychology, Sociology, or Art. He defined the procedure as a phenomenon between two people. He is a sociologist, who studies “collective movement” like French Revolution. It was absurd at first, for he tries to explain two people falling in love with French Revolution. However, I was inspired by his sociological imagination.

 To be honest, I read this book before I explore ‘Sociology’, so I couldn’t understand a lot of parts. But since I read through it again, I can recognize some sociologists (especially, I think the author was mainly based on Durkheim) and some terms such as sociological imagination. I didn’t read the entire book. I just picked up some interesting parts before. But I realized that I could see as much as I know. I think I might learn what “know” really means. I will read this entire book carefully again. I will really appreciate if somebody shares some thought about this book.

P.s. I have an electronic form of this book. Tell me if somebody is interested in it. J

Sociology thinking about "'the Walking Dead"

            We’ve talked about the society a lot in class. Today what I want to talk about is if the world is Chaos or order. The world seems to be in Chaos, but it is actually ordered. The apparent example is TV show called “the Walking dead.” I watched it through this weekend. This drama is mainly about zombies. In the show, the world is covered by walkers, which are people whose brains are completely ruined except very few parts. Basically the story talks about how the survivors deal with the situation, and zombies. The one scene explains why the world is ordered very well. Two groups of survivor had a conversation to get weapons first. One of them was gangs, yet they were helping the sick elderly, and they say all people they’ve encountered were bad. Here is the main conversation. “Guess, the world was changed,” “No, it’s the same as it ever was, but we can’t take it.” What he’s saying is the world seems more chaotic, but it is still working in a system. Only difference is that the situation is a little getting worse.  I think the world is more likely chaos and order at the same time, but the character has a point. We’ve got to think about what it stands for. My sociological imagination is still not enough, but I’m glad that I can find the connection between my joy from personal life and the sociological thinking.