Seeing and Thinking Sociology
Chapter 2: Seeing and Thinking Sociologically
318: With Great Power
Kayceelyn Alvarado
022113216
April 20, 2012
Sociology 100
Dr. Margaret J. Greer
Kayceelyn Alvarado
Dr. Margaret J. Greer
Sociology 100
April 20, 2012
Seeing and Thinking Sociologically In our textbook, Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life by David M. Newman, I had read Chapter 2 titled “Seeing and Thinking Sociologically” and it stuck out the most. It explained how individuals structure society, social and societal influence, and the three perspectives on social order. The radio broadcast from the American Life titled “318: With Great Power” gave me a better understanding of what Newman was trying to explain to me because of the use of personal stories. It helped me to comprehend “that the relationship between the individual and society is reciprocal. One cannot be understood without accounting for the other” (Newman, Pg. 49). We must always remember that our lives are shaped by our culture, roles, statuses, and value of life.
The story, Act Two: Unwelcome Wagon from “318: With Great Power”, talked about Betty’s neighbor who would not stop harassing her family. He would act out of the norm (culturally defined standard or rule of conduct) by killing their cat or leaving crude words on their front lawn with weed repellant, which by the way wouldn’t go away for a whole year. Years later, Betty’s family finally received a “gift” dumped on their lawn. It was their neighbor’s most personal information: social security number, work place, e-mail, everything you can think of for black-mailing someone. Betty’s value (standard of judgment by which people decide on desirable goals and outcomes) came into place, though. She did not use it to torment the neighbor, as the neighbor did to her family, but kept it as a symbol (something used to represent or stand for something else). It helped to remind her and her family what they had gone through and know they can get through
318: With Great Power
Kayceelyn Alvarado
022113216
April 20, 2012
Sociology 100
Dr. Margaret J. Greer
Kayceelyn Alvarado
Dr. Margaret J. Greer
Sociology 100
April 20, 2012
Seeing and Thinking Sociologically In our textbook, Sociology: Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life by David M. Newman, I had read Chapter 2 titled “Seeing and Thinking Sociologically” and it stuck out the most. It explained how individuals structure society, social and societal influence, and the three perspectives on social order. The radio broadcast from the American Life titled “318: With Great Power” gave me a better understanding of what Newman was trying to explain to me because of the use of personal stories. It helped me to comprehend “that the relationship between the individual and society is reciprocal. One cannot be understood without accounting for the other” (Newman, Pg. 49). We must always remember that our lives are shaped by our culture, roles, statuses, and value of life.
The story, Act Two: Unwelcome Wagon from “318: With Great Power”, talked about Betty’s neighbor who would not stop harassing her family. He would act out of the norm (culturally defined standard or rule of conduct) by killing their cat or leaving crude words on their front lawn with weed repellant, which by the way wouldn’t go away for a whole year. Years later, Betty’s family finally received a “gift” dumped on their lawn. It was their neighbor’s most personal information: social security number, work place, e-mail, everything you can think of for black-mailing someone. Betty’s value (standard of judgment by which people decide on desirable goals and outcomes) came into place, though. She did not use it to torment the neighbor, as the neighbor did to her family, but kept it as a symbol (something used to represent or stand for something else). It helped to remind her and her family what they had gone through and know they can get through