Culture

1--One scholarly journal, newspaper, or magazine article that best represents specific concepts or a theory that particularly interest you from that chapter (or a part of the chapter)
http://reason.com/archives/1999/04/01/all-culture-all-the-time
This article has to do with all things culture. It comes from REASON Magazine and goes through 4 rather lone pages about the cultural abundance in America today as prodded by the media. It’s a long read, but a good one at that.

2--One photograph, painting, drawing, or other visual illustration that best symbolizes the main theme of the chapter (or a part of the chapter that particularly interests you)

This picture is hilarious. It really gives you an idea of culture clash and how silly it can be sometimes.

3—One video clip that describes/explains a specific concept or theory from your chapter
This clip describes culture in depth. It's about 10 minutes and does a good job giving a history, definition and the effects of culture.


4--Two Internet sites (URL and two sentences describing the site) that provide useful information to the reader about the concepts in the chapter (or the part of the chapter that interests you)
Site 1: http://www.everyculture.com/
This site is great because it gives a look into the cultures of the world. Planning a trip? It’s important to know what’s taboo in Tahiti or wherever you’re headed! This site can do a lot to acquaint you to different ideas and norms in the world.
Site 2: http://www.worldwide.edu/travel_planner/culture_shock.html
I think this webpage does an incredible job describing culture shock. It gives you an insight into symptoms, treating it, history, and more. It’s essential to understand how to handle differences between culture when you’re not expecting them.

5--One poem, quote, or song lyrics that represent the feelings you had reading the chapter
The song I chose is by Switchfoot and is called Tune for the Paparazzi – Basically a quirky commentary on media culture today. I couldn’t help but have it pop in my head when the book was discussing current media.
Chorus:
tune
tune for the paparazzi
tune for the paparazzi

this is a tune the paparazzi
the who's who and the so and so's
this is a tune for the graven images of marilyn monroe
we saw your face on the magazine
we heard the song on the mp3

chorus

you're stuck in my head
stuck in my head
stuck in my head
you can close your ears and your eyes
but the pop will never leave you alone
tune for the paparazzi

leave me alone
with your social lingo
you try so hard to stay on top
leave me alone
with your little jingle
with your picture perfect pop
we read the article in seventeen
we saw the video on mtv

chorus

pop will never leave you alone
noooo

this is a tune for the late nirvana
the teen spirit rock and roll
this is a tune for the velvet elvis's
on the 90210

i thought my eyes were gonna get off clean
till i read your lips on the tv screen
you were busy saying what you didn't mean
now everyone is singing along with your ridiculous song

you got it stuck you
got it stuck in my head
stuck in my head
stuck in my head
you can close

6-At least two paragraphs that describe why you chose that chapter and the supporting materials

I chose culture as a chapter to do a blog entry on because it is so broad and important in everything else in the world and sociology. If you think about the conflicts that we face on an international scale, much of it has to do with cultural differences. Wars are fought because we think differently. Jobs are outsourced to save money because other nations allow a cultural of worker abuse and low wages where the USA does not. Further, in order to understand and tolerate others, you have to know that others are different and why. My favorite quote to describe this is that "Do not assume I share your prejudice."
It's very difficult to do anything without knowing culture. I think cultural understanding is important in realizing where we came from and where we are headed. You can tell alot about a society based upon the content of its television programming. For example, I find American news stations to be much more sensationalist that I do the World Service by the BBC. That's a difference in media culture. All in all culture means a lot to all of us!


7-A crossword puzzle or word search with at least 10 concepts (and definitions).

Across
4. asserts that language determines other aspects of culture because language provides the categories through which social reality is defined.
6. the channels of communication available to wide segments of the population
11. the idea that something can be understood and judged only in relationship to the cultural context in which it appears.
13. the beliefs, practices, and objects that are part of everyday traditions
14. the written set of guidelines that define right and wrong in society
15. behaviors that bring the most serious sanctions
16. the cultures of groups whose values and norms of behavior differ to some degree from those of the dominant culture.
17. the transmission of cultural elements from one society or cultural group to another.
18. the habit of only seeing things from the point of view of one's own group.
19. contends that the mass media reflect the values of the general population
Down
1. includes the norms, laws, customs, ideas, and beliefs of a group of people.
2. a set of symbols and rules that, put together in a meaningful way, provides a complex communication system.
3. the pervasice and excessive influence of one culture throughout society
5. things or behaviors to which people give meaning
7. the culture of the most powerful group in a society
8. the specific cultural expectations for how to behave in a given situation
9. the complex system of meaning and behavior that defines the way of life for a given group or society.
10. strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior
11. the cultural resources that are deemed worth and that give advantages to groups possessing such capital.
12. consists of the objects created in a given society

Race and Ethnicity

1--One scholarly journal, newspaper, or magazine article that best represents specific concepts or a theory that particularly interest you from that chapter (or a part of the chapter)

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-01-07/health/racism.study_1_psychology-new-study-black-people?_s=PM:HEALTH

This article from CNN describes how racism underlies a lot of people, even though they outwardly appear to be tolerant of others. The study it describes was published in the journal Science in 2009.


2--One photograph, painting, drawing, or other visual illustration that best symbolizes the main theme of the chapter (or a part of the chapter that particularly interests you)

3—One video clip that describes/explains a specific concept or theory from your chapter




American Anthropological Association as an introduction to race and where stigmas come from. It is a good start to understanding the racial problems we face today.


4--Two Internet sites (URL and two sentences describing the site) that provide useful information to the reader about the concepts in the chapter (or the part of the chapter that interests you)

Site 1: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/in.america/black.in.america/

This site is a follow up to the CNN series “Black In America” detailing some of what African-Americans have been through and how they currently live. Although this series has been criticized as being nearsighted, I believe it has legitimate points that show how ethnicity and race do play a role in enforcing the class structure as well as oppressing those who are simply different from others.

Site 2: http://www.pbs.org/race/000_About/002_04-background-02-01.htm

This site is from the PBS and details the origins of racial stigma. I think it is very important to understand the background of where racism and inequality is born to truly be able to handle it in the future.

5--One poem, quote, or song lyrics that represent the feelings you had reading the chapter

The chapter is a dark reality that racism and inequality due to ethnicity still exist today. Stereotypical media portrayals and ingrained racism lead the way for most of America today, even when we deny it as the CNN article suggested. The whole time reading this, I kept thinking, “This is stupid. It should matter? Who the hell cares if someone’s black or white?” Which, naturally, led me to the classic:


"Black Or White"

Michael Jackson


I Took My Baby

On A Saturday Bang

Boy Is That Girl With You

Yes We're One And The Same


Now I Believe In Miracles

And A Miracle

Has Happened Tonight


But, If

You're Thinkin'

About My Baby

It Don't Matter If You're

Black Or White


They Print My Message

In The Saturday Sun

I Had To Tell Them

I Ain't Second To None


And I Told About Equality

An It's True

Either You're Wrong

Or You're Right


But, If

You're Thinkin'

About My Baby

It Don't Matter If You're

Black Or White


I Am Tired Of This Devil

I Am Tired Of This Stuff

I Am Tired Of This Business

Sew When The

Going Gets Rough

I Ain't Scared Of

Your Brother

I Ain't Scared Of No Sheets

I Ain't Scare Of Nobody

Girl When The

Goin' Gets Mean


[L. T. B. Rap Performance]

Protection

For Gangs, Clubs

And Nations

Causing Grief In

Human Relations

It's A Turf War

On A Global Scale

I'd Rather Hear Both Sides

Of The Tale

See, It's Not About Races

Just Places

Faces

Where Your Blood

Comes From

Is Where Your Space Is

I've Seen The Bright

Get Duller

I'm Not Going To Spend

My Life Being A Color


[Michael]

Don't Tell Me You Agree With Me

When I Saw You Kicking Dirt In My Eye


But, If

You're Thinkin' About My Baby

It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White


I Said If

You're Thinkin' Of

Being My Baby

It Don't Matter If You're Black Or White


I Said If

You're Thinkin' Of

Being My Brother

It Don't Matter If You're

Black Or White


Ooh, Ooh

Yea, Yea, Yea Now

Ooh, Ooh

Yea, Yea, Yea Now


It's Black, It's White

It's Tough For You

To Get By

It's Black , It's White, Whoo


It's Black, It's White

It's Tough For You

To Get By

It's Black , It's White, Whoo


6-At least two paragraphs that describe why you chose that chapter and the specific supporting materials you included on your page
 I chose this chapter because of its relevancy. It's not that I feel other chapters in sociology aren't relevant, I just think that racism has been around for so long and has definitely made strides in overcoming itself from slavery, Japanese interments, Angel Island, etc. Yet in spite of all the challenges minority groups have overcome, they are still oppressed in many forms today, regardless of how many wars we have fought over it or how much blood has been spilled because of it.
Specifically, I chose the article from CNN because I believe it tells us all a little bit about ourselves that we choose to pretend doesn't exist and ignore. Placed in a similar situation as the study set up, would you do something about overt racism? What about aversive racism? The fact is, even if you're not a racist, it doesn't do any good to not be a racist but not to do anything when you have the chance to combat that racism. The video I chose is from the American Anthropological society and I picked it specifically because I think it is something everyone should see. It gives a good overview of what we have done to each other, our fellow man, in the name of being different. It is important for everyone to remember that history. The Picture was chosen because of the quote, again reminding us that racism is only going to be more harmful than any perceived good it would produce.


7-A crossword puzzle or word search with at least 10 concepts (and definitions).

Across

7. process by which a minority becomes socially, economically, and culturally absorbed within dominant society.

8. describes high levels of segregation or patterns of extreme segregation

11. a subtle, covert form of racism

Down

1. group that assigns a racial or ethnic group to subordinate status in a society

2. a social category of people who share common culture, language, religion, norms, customs, or history.

3. a program for racial change intended to reduce job and educational ineqaulity

4. is the process by which a group comes to be defined as a race

5. the belief that one's group is superior to all other groups

6. overt, obvious racism possibly consisting of physical violence

9. perception and treatment of a racial or ethnic group as intellectually, socially, or culturally inferior to one's own group

10. any distinct group in society that shares common group characteristics and is forced to occupy low status in society because of prejudice and discrimination.

12. institutional racism in the criminal justice system that assumes guilt based on race

13. process where some social category takes on what society perceives to be racial characteristics