Concept Application Project Essay

Throughout the semester I fox explored m any topics in sociology. While exploring these topics, tercet main conjectural posts were employ. I will briefly illustrate each of the main theoretical persuasions of functionalism, contrast theory, and symbolismic Interactionism. During this semester I prolong watched cardinal films, Food in bodilyd and The Vernon fundaments Story. I will describe how a theoretical perspective is employ in each of these examples. Then I will provide my own two examples where concepts and theoretical perspectives force out be illustrated.My First example is the capital of Massachusetts endurance contest Bombings and the second is the Mass Medias coerage of the Boston Bombings. The Functionalist linear perspective is a sociological perspective that emphasizes each part of confederation contributing to the excerption of that edict. In Sociology in Modules, they delineate the functionalists perspective as, A sociological climb that emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society atomic number 18 organise to maintain its stability (Schaefer 15). The functionalist perspective can be compared to the human be model. Each part of the body performs specific tasks. For example, our legs each(prenominal)ow us to head or run and our lungs allow us to breathe. Without each and every body part, one simply can non perform to the maximum voltage. Now when a functionalist is looking at at a society, they albumenthorn debate several(predicate) mixer groups that pay to a larger population. The Conflict Perspective is a sociological perspective that views the cosmos as a constant struggle.In our textbook, Sociology in Modules, they define the contravene perspective as, A sociological approach that assumes that companionable behaviour is best understood in terms of tension between groups all all over power or the allocation of resources, including housing, money, access to services, and political representation (Scha efer 15). thither are many areas where booking can a startle in straight removes society. Religious groups, political parties, and different social phasees, may all obligate conflicting views with otherwise or opposite groups.Examples of the conflict perspective include means of output versus labor and the concentration of wealth. In upstart history, the conflict perspective is becoming more popular. With, The widespread social fermenting resulting from battles over civil rights, bitter divisions over the war in Vietnam, the rise of the feminist and gay liberation movements, the Watergate political scandal, urban riots, and confrontations at abortion clinics have offered support for the conflict approach (Schaefer 16). Groups in society with different viewpoints oft pose a great threat to conflicting parties.The Interactionist Perspective is the third main sociological perspective where the traditional way of thought comes from typical human interaction between groups. Sociology in Modules defines the interactionist perspective as, generalizations somewhat everyday forms of social interaction in order to explain society as a whole (Schaefer 17). The interactionist perspective is also know as symbolic interactionism. I believe it is much easier to look at it from a symbolic interactionism perspective because symbols are easier to understand.From a symbolic interactionist perspective, one may see the world we live in as full of objects. These objects can come on the form of wad, places, things, thoughts, feelings, or symbols. Symbolic interactionism looks at these symbols to think of groups by their symbol. Each symbol may be different. For example, a symbol could be the type of color of car you drive, what you wear to work or school everyday, or even tattoos. Groups in society are often characterized by their symbols. These symbols allow people with similar symbols to communicate with ease.Food Incorporated is a documentary film that portrays the corporate farming industry in the joined States as un healthy, harmful, abusive, and inhumane. Food Inc. the exposure really gave me something to think about, it only(prenominal) rein laboured my beliefs to eat healthy and support organic and free-range shop fed meats. The most meaningful thing to me was when one of the contributors said the corporate farming industry only deprivations to grow their products bigger, fatter, cheaper, faster. This agribusiness in only in it for the sake of business and they dont see the other side.On the other side there are these products that are being mass-produced in factory farms. This seemingly only affects the dismantle class Americans who can only afford the cheapest of food products at the superior market. From a financial standpoint, it only makes sense that people are forced to consume such low quality products at their demise. As the conflict theory would describe it, this is a constant struggle between the manufacturing business and the consumer. The producers are producing animal products in close quarter factory farms and victuals them corn, which is not a naturally occurring meal.Specifically cattle and chickens are stipulation hormone shots to make them grown bigger, fatter, and faster. These farms do not treat the animals good at all. The animals live in horrible conditions, often snips in their own manure. This causes disease to reach to food that eventually people eat. thither are cases that come up all the time where products need to be pulled from the shelves in stores because of contaminated foods. The Vernon Johns story is a truthful story turned into a movie that portrays a Minister, Vernon John, who leads the African Americans in the fight for civil rights.This film demonstrated the development of social switch in the south. First, the blacks do not measure up to the colours in social class. They often held position in social that were not important of looked overpower upon. For exampl e, the position that Vernon John holds is viewed as a conflict by white law enforcement officials. During the early 1900s, Black Americans were being segregated from society. Secondly, During this time, African Americans were not recognized by society as having any value other than slavery. Race and ethnicity played a large role in society during this time.African American Racial groups formed and they were discriminated against. Vernon John is a loss leader of social change. He stepped up and faced the danger in speechmaking his views. The movie illustrates two great examples of hate crime in the 1920s. The firstly is when Vernon John was driving in his car late at night to bring a girl who had been raped to the hospital. The white policemen pulled Vernon John over and just antagonized him for no reason. Another example is when part of Vernon Johns church was set on fire. This was obviously planned by the white Americans out of hatred for Vernon Johns following and community.Th e blacks were heavily being discriminated against. Third, the government used force and power to exercise their will against Vernon John and the Black Americans. The movie demonstrates a great example of what goes on in society today. Although the United States may not be going through the exact very(prenominal) situation of secretion as the 1900s, we are still facing sorts of discrimination and hate crimes today. Which leads me into my next example, the recent Boston marathon bombings. The Boston Marathon bombings is an alleged terrorist attack that happened during the finish of the 2013 Boston Marathon.On April 15th, 2013, two Moslem brothers from Massachusetts detonated two explosives near the finish line of the Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 200 people. The 2013 Boston Marathon Bombings display the conflict some people have with society. I am not in the head of the bombers or the investigators so I am only speech from an outside perspective. With that being said, I cannot imagine what they were thinking when setting off these two explosions in front of thousands of people. From the suspects point of view, they must have seen the world from a conflict perspective.They must have believed that they didnt fit into society. In a Wall Street Journal article, one suspect claims he and his brother were angry about the U. S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the killing of Muslims there (Authorities take Bomb Suspects Planned NYC Attack). My only guess is that their hatred for the United States is so fierce that they concluded in carrying out these horrible acts. It appears that other groups from over seas heavily influenced the suspects. This is just one example of how government, religion, and cultural differences can shape conflicting in society.The mass media can influence the coverage of any story by the time it reaches the populace. The mass media is defined by Sociology in Modules as, print and electronic means of communication that carries messages to widespread audiences (Schaefer 153). The leverage they have is huge in what teaching/sources they have and what they release. In the coverage of the Boston Bombings, the media helped the public understand of what precautions they should take around the threatened area. The media also helped people from across the country understand what was happening in Boston.In this case, I believe the media did a good job in providing accurate education to the public. However, this is not always the case. The conflict view states that gatekeeping can control what information reaches the public. For example the media can choose on which pieces of word to report on, difference out specifics that could totally twist the story. They can also choose which sources they want to use which may also have an affect on the resultant of the story. Not all social classes have access to certain news sources. Many sources are behind a pay wall, which prohibits some potential viewers from accessing the information.The functionalist view would say that the mass media plays a role in society that keeps it moving forward. Sociology in Modules says, the mass media is to occupy our leisure timefrom newspaper comics and crossword puzzles to the latest music releases on the Internet. While that is true, the media have other important functions. They also socialize us, enforce social norms, natter status, and promote consumption (Schaefer 154). This is all very true and it reinforces our viewpoints of the media. Overall, multiple theoretical perspectives can portray the mass media.Indeed, concepts and theoretical perspectives learned in class are used to illustrate events in society today. First, the example of the Vernon Johns story gives one the ability to see the upbringing of social change through the civil rights movement. The second example of the Food Inc. production is one that produces for profit without taking into consideration all the ethical and health ne eds of American citizens. Third, my example of the Boston Marathon Bombings illustrates conflict and hates crimes in our culture today. Lastly. The mass media acts as an agent between information and the public through print and electronic versions.The conflict and functionalists theoretical perspectives can be used to analyze the mass media. Therefore, social concepts and theoretical perspectives are used throughout the society we live in today. ? Works Cited Authorities consecrate Bomb Suspects Planned NYC Attack. WSJ. com. Associated Press, 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Food, Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Movie One, 2008. DVD. Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology In Modules. red-hot York McGraw-Hill, 2011. McGrawHills Connect. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. The Vernon Johns Story. Dir. Kenneth Fink. 1994. DVD.