Since being a sociology major at E.U.P., I have considered myself to be a Symbolic Interactionist. However, I think the older I get and the longer life has to kick the mess out of me...I think I'm starting to lean to a Conflict Theorist sociological perspective on the world. I think there can be a good argument made especially during our present economic conditions for the scarcity of resources and different groups competing for them. Primarily the resource of "wealth", although I am sure the executives at A.I.G. would have a different opinion.
Last October I was traveling to a conference with a friend to Kansas City. We spent the night half way in St. Louis at his uncles house. He told me that his uncle was pretty wealthy and that we would have a good time staying there. Needless to say, after gaining permission to come through the guarded gate, we entered the 28,000 sq.ft. mansion on the Mississippi River. In the mansion was 14 bedrooms, 18 bathrooms, 4 dining rooms, a foyer the size of my entire house, a movie theater, full size arcade game room...as well as a guest house, servants quarters, and a Lamborghini, Prowler, Mustang, and 4 Harley's in the garage. I had my own floor to stay on with my choice of bedroom, bathroom, and a personal servant to get me anything I might need. The mansion had a staff of 20...for the 3 people who lived there. Life was good.
However the good life that I got to enjoy that day was abruptly interrupted by the conference I was attending on "Meeting the needs of the less fortunate." According to C. Wright-Mills, this separation of classes is nothing new but has been evolving from the early years of the formation of our country. But within the last 30 years there has been an enormous spike in the socio-economic stratification of the country.
1. What sociological theory best addresses the current state of our socio-economic condition and how or why we got here?
2. How can the study of social sciences play a part in pulling the plane out of a nose dive...if you believe we're in a nose dive.
3. What work of science fiction do you think best portrays the present day realities of our society, and what could we learn from it's projection?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Exam One - Spring 2009
Sociology of Science Fiction
Exam -- Spring 2009
Due Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 @ 11:15 am via email
ramatthews@edinboro.edu
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer 3 of the 6 questions.
Format: 1” margins -- Arial Font -- 11 pt
Upper right corner header with last name & first initial -- page number underneath, email address underneath that – the font size for your header should be 8 pt.
Place the question above each response.
Use in text citations & include your references at the end of each response.
GUIDELINES
Answer three (3) of the six (6) questions.
Use a theoretical perspective in each response.
Use the readings, and reference, at least, one in each response.
Please feel free to discuss these questions with each other. It is the best way to understand the subject matter. However, do not write your answers together, as this increases the likelihood that you will unintentionally plagiarize each others’ work.
Type your responses! And place the questions above your responses.
I will not accept hard copy exams. Turn it in, in, via email, by Wednesday, March 25th, at 11:15 am.
I will not answer questions regarding your responses once I have handed out the exam. You may, however, ask for clarification.
Do not ask questions in your responses. Answer them. Remember, you are the expert here.
Don’t bullshit me. I really hate it. If you don’t know the answer, move on to another one.
1. The sociological perspective allows us to view social interactions from a broader perspective than other social sciences generally allow. Science fiction, as a genre, seeks to address present day social issues by hypothesizing their existence, or the result of their existence in future societies. Using one of the major social theories, discuss the popularity of science fiction in popular culture and its role in addressing modern social interactions.
2. Discuss the importance of projecting the future of a society to the study of sociology.
3. Core U.S. values provide our major social interactions with a unifying theme. They represent the foundation of our culture. Using two works of science fiction, discuss three core values addressed in the works & juxtapose their depiction in the works with the real world, social realities of their existence in our culture.
4. Octavia Butler’s short story “Bloodchild” exhibits a reversal of gender roles when the T'Lic use mostly men to "birth" their young & T'Gatoi is depicted as a powerful, T'lic, female, political figure. Compare & contrast major gender roles & expectations in U.S. society with the roles depicted in the story. Particularly address whether the domination of one gender over another is welcome, or even encouraged, in both societies?
5. Thoroughly discuss empire, its expansion, its depiction in science fiction, and whether or not it constitutes a core U.S. value.
6. Social interactions are constructed via values, norms & cultural belief systems of a society. Generally speaking, they are constructed in order to maintain and sustain a particular social structure. Exchange theory is a subtle, unspoken theory of social interactions, in real society, as well as in science fiction. Its intersection with conflict theory is addressed even less. This is a function of the high priority placed upon the value of “feeling” and emotion in the construction of relationships. Using an intersection of exchange and conflict theories, compare and contrast the construction of relationships, families and reproduction in science fiction and the real world.
Exam -- Spring 2009
Due Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 @ 11:15 am via email
ramatthews@edinboro.edu
INSTRUCTIONS
Answer 3 of the 6 questions.
Format: 1” margins -- Arial Font -- 11 pt
Upper right corner header with last name & first initial -- page number underneath, email address underneath that – the font size for your header should be 8 pt.
Place the question above each response.
Use in text citations & include your references at the end of each response.
GUIDELINES
Answer three (3) of the six (6) questions.
Use a theoretical perspective in each response.
Use the readings, and reference, at least, one in each response.
Please feel free to discuss these questions with each other. It is the best way to understand the subject matter. However, do not write your answers together, as this increases the likelihood that you will unintentionally plagiarize each others’ work.
Type your responses! And place the questions above your responses.
I will not accept hard copy exams. Turn it in, in, via email, by Wednesday, March 25th, at 11:15 am.
I will not answer questions regarding your responses once I have handed out the exam. You may, however, ask for clarification.
Do not ask questions in your responses. Answer them. Remember, you are the expert here.
Don’t bullshit me. I really hate it. If you don’t know the answer, move on to another one.
1. The sociological perspective allows us to view social interactions from a broader perspective than other social sciences generally allow. Science fiction, as a genre, seeks to address present day social issues by hypothesizing their existence, or the result of their existence in future societies. Using one of the major social theories, discuss the popularity of science fiction in popular culture and its role in addressing modern social interactions.
2. Discuss the importance of projecting the future of a society to the study of sociology.
3. Core U.S. values provide our major social interactions with a unifying theme. They represent the foundation of our culture. Using two works of science fiction, discuss three core values addressed in the works & juxtapose their depiction in the works with the real world, social realities of their existence in our culture.
4. Octavia Butler’s short story “Bloodchild” exhibits a reversal of gender roles when the T'Lic use mostly men to "birth" their young & T'Gatoi is depicted as a powerful, T'lic, female, political figure. Compare & contrast major gender roles & expectations in U.S. society with the roles depicted in the story. Particularly address whether the domination of one gender over another is welcome, or even encouraged, in both societies?
5. Thoroughly discuss empire, its expansion, its depiction in science fiction, and whether or not it constitutes a core U.S. value.
6. Social interactions are constructed via values, norms & cultural belief systems of a society. Generally speaking, they are constructed in order to maintain and sustain a particular social structure. Exchange theory is a subtle, unspoken theory of social interactions, in real society, as well as in science fiction. Its intersection with conflict theory is addressed even less. This is a function of the high priority placed upon the value of “feeling” and emotion in the construction of relationships. Using an intersection of exchange and conflict theories, compare and contrast the construction of relationships, families and reproduction in science fiction and the real world.
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