Multiculturalism - Quiz 8 Outline and Essay Questions

MASS MEDIA

- According to Warshaw, what is the source of the gangster’s appeal?

- Why did Francis Ford Coppola see the Mafia as a metaphor for America?

- What does Kelley see as the similarities between the views of the characters in gangsta rap and

fictional Mafia characters?

- According to Kelley, what is the appeal of gangsta rap to 1) African-Americans and 2) middle-class

White males?

-What are the reasons for the decline of “ethnicoms” and variety shows in the mid 1950s?

- According to a CBS executive, what were the four things that American viewers would not tolerate

in 1970?

- What are the key conventions of early/mid 1970s “ethnicoms”, particularly Black situation comedies?

- According to Jhally and Lewis, what is the appeal of the The Cosby Show to both Black and White viewers?

- According to Jhally and Lewis, what were the negative aspects of The Cosby Show’s popularity?

- According to Butsch, what are the reasons why there are so few working-class characters on network television?

- Since the early 1990s, what have been the trends with respect to Black situation comedies?

- According to Sun and Espiritu, what are the prominent stereotypes of Asians in American popular culture?

- What is the purpose of satire?

- How does the producer (Jay Roach) of the movie defend the satirical comedy in Borat?

- What are Schulman and Omi’s key assertions about racially based satire like In Living Color?

Quiz 8 Essay Questions

1. Why does Francis Ford Coppola consider the Mafia a metaphor for America? As described by Kelley, what are the similarities between the protagonists (i.e. the “character” the singer adopts) in gangsta rap songs and the Mafia in the Godfather films? According to Warshaw, what are the reasons why Americans enjoy the gangster figure? Are Warshaw’s assertions still accurate? Defend your answer

2. What are Schulman and Omi’s main assertions about racially based satire? How does Borat’s producer, Jay Roach, defend the particular brand of comedy in the movie? Discuss Feeney’s key arguments about Dave Chappelle and The Chappelle Show. In particular, what does Feeney say about The Chappelle Show’s “Real World” sketch”? Do you believe that Chappelle’s “Real World” sketch perpetuates stereotypes about African-Americans? Likewise, does Leguizamo’s “Crossover King” sketch perpetuate stereotypes against Latinos? In your opinion, does Langston Hughes’ claim in 1951 that “certain aspects of the humor of minority groups are often so inbred that they are not palatable for outside consumption”, still apply to American culture? Similarly, do you think audiences “get” the satire in Borat? Elaborate.

3. According to Jhally and Lewis, what was the source of The Cosby Show’s appeal to Black and White viewers? What did Jhally and Lewis regard as the negative consequences of The Cosby Show’s popularity? Describe the key trends with respect to Black sitcoms over the last 15 years? Do you think it is possible to have a working-class Black (or Latino or Asian) situation comedy that is popular with viewers of all races on a major network without resorting to excessive stereotyping? Explain.

Responsible for: Kromkowski: Reading 29, 45

Sun (pps. 656-664); Butsch: (pp. 403-412); Feeney: (pps. 1-2);

Intro to Sociology - Test 5 Outlines and Essay Questions

Education

- What are generally acknowledged as the 3 primary goals of education?

- In 2006, what percentage of Americans 25 and over have a four year college degree or higher?

What percent have attended “some college” (or have an associates’ degree)?

- According to functionalists, what should be the key functions of an educational system?

- According to conflict theorists, what are the three main ways that the educational system unfairly treats poor and working class students (and minorities)?

- How are public schools in the United States funded?

- What do the conflict theorists Bowles and Gintis mean by the term "the correspondence principle"?

- What is meant by the term “cultural capital”?

- What does it mean to call education a credential?

- What are the conflict theorist’s main complaints about credentialism?

- According to Hacker, what are the main problems with contemporary higher education?

- According to Gracey, what are the main purposes of kindergarten?

- According to Gatto, what are the fundamental problems with the American educational system? What are the consequences for students?

OUTLINE FOR FAMILY

- What is the main source of family-related problems according to social and religious conservatives?

- According to conflict theorists, why is the family a site for the exploitation of women?

- Approximately what percentage of women are victims of domestic abuse?

- What are the individual level explanations for domestic violence?

- What are the societal level explanations for domestic violence?

- Approximately, what percent of mothers with pre-school age children currently work (or were

looking for work)?

- What are the differences between the U.S. and Northern European countries with respect to child care and maternity leave?

- How many weeks of unpaid leave does Family Medical Leave Act give to individuals to care

for a child, parent, or spouse (providing they meet the requirements)

- How did the families Hochschild interviewed at Amerco Corporation deal with the “time bind”?

- What kinds of government support do conflict theorists recommend to deal with family-related

problems?

- According to Hirshman, why do so many “elite”/well-educated women opt out of their careers?

- What kind of “rules” for young women does Hirshman advocate?

- What have been the general trends with respect to the divorce rate over the last 60 years?

- What are the commonly cited explanations for the high divorce rate in the United States?

- What are Coontz’s proposals to reduce the prevalence of divorce?

- What are Coontz’s proposals to minimize the negative consequences of divorce?

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 5TH TEST

1. What is the most important sociological concept (or finding) that you learned all semester? Why? Be sure to discuss the concept or finding as clearly as possible and how it has changed the way you perceive yourself and the larger society? Elaborate. (You should think about this question before the day of the test.)

2. Discuss the different ways, as described by conflict theorists, that class inequalities produce educational inequalities. Be sure to explain the concept of “cultural capital”. In your opinion, should anything be done about the increasing “credentialism” in America society? Lastly, what would be the one thing you would like to change most about the American educational system? Defend your answer.

3. When Hochschild interviewed workers at Amerco Corporation in the mid 1990s, how did they tend to deal with the “time bind” (i.e. juggling family and worklife)? Summarize both Hirshman’s assertions about the “opt-out revolution” and her solutions to the issue as well as Brooks’ criticisms of Hirshman. Whose arguments do you most agree with? Why? In particular, do you agree with Hirshman’s “rules” for well-educated women? Lastly, given all that you have read (and discussed in class), what is the most important thing that could be done to help families where both parents work? Elaborate.

Responsible For: Schaefer: Chapter 8 (pages 212-215); Chapter 9 (pages 228-240)

Kozol (pps. 1-11); Gatto (pps. 33-38); Shahmehri (pps. 204- 209);

Hirshman (pps. 20-26); Brooks (pps. 1-2)

Multiculturalism - Quiz 7 Outline and Essay Questions

OUTLINE: Interracial and Interclass Relationships

- What are the problems faced by the couple (Dan Croteau and Cate Woolner) in Lewin’s article?

- What are the reasons for the decline in people marrying people from different class backgrounds over

the last 30 years? What are the consequences of this trend?

- According to Bellafante, what are the reasons for the popularity of interclass “Cinderella/Cinderfella”

stories in American popular culture?

- What is the Supreme Court case that overthrows all anti-miscegenation laws? In what year?

- Which groups/populations in the United States have comparatively higher intermarriage rates?

- Approximately what percent of Latinos, Asians, and non-Hispanic Blacks marry outside their

race?

- According to Kennedy, why do many Black women oppose interracial marriage?

- What are Patterson’s arguments for increasing interracial marriage among Blacks?

- According to the college students interviewed by Childs, what are the reasons for:

a) Opposition to interracial marriage by White parents?

b) Opposition to interracial marriage by Black parents?

- How was the tragic mulatto depicted in Hollywood films of the 1940s and 1950s?

- According to Davidson and Taylor, what is the general appeal of sexual tourism to “Westerners”?

- In Davidson and Taylor’s research on sex tourism, how do 1) Western men and 2) Western women

perceive non-Western prostitutes?

- What is meant by the term “projection”?

ESSAY QUESTIONS

1. As discussed in class, what are Patterson’s arguments for increasing the interracial marriage rate among Blacks? According to the college students interviewed by Childs, why do, respectively, many 1) Black and 2) White parents oppose interracial intermarriage? Do you think a majority of parents between the ages of 40 and 60 still oppose interracial marriage? In your opinion, what is the most common reason why a parent in 2009 would object to interracial marriage? Elaborate.

2. As cited in the Lewin piece and discussed in class, what kind of difficulties do Dan Croteau and Cate Woolner face because of their different class backgrounds? Describe the reasons (as well as the larger societal consequences of this trend) why there has been an increase in the number of people marrying people from similar class and educational backgrounds. Do you think this trend will continue over the next 20-25 years? According to Bellafante (see handout), what are the reasons for the continued popularity of “Cinderella” films? Do you think a significant number of women and men in contemporary America would like to be real-life “Cinderella/Cinderfellas”? Explain.

3. How do Davidson and Taylor explain the popularity of “sex tourism” amongst Westerners? In particular, how do 1) western male and 2) western female sex tourists view prostitutes, and their relationships with them, in the Caribbean? Given class discussions and your own impressions, do you believe that the American mass media (specifically film and fictional television shows) still tends to sexually exoticize racial/ethnic male and female minorities? Try to be fairly specific in your answer.

Responsible for: Kromkowski: Article 17

Childs: (pps. 335-343); Poulson-Bryant (pps. 5-15); Matthews (pp. 74 from handout);

De Stefano: (pps. 31-33)

Research Methods - Quiz 5 Outline

Outline: Qualitative Methods

- What were Durkheims’ central arguments about religion and suicide?

- What was Males’ fundamental argument about “teen suicide crisis” in the 1990s?

- What is meant by the term “ideal type”?

- What is Weber’s fundamental thesis about the origins of capitalism?

- What are the central differences between qualitative and quantitative research?

- What is central purpose of field research? What are topics appropriate to field research?

- What are the different roles available to the field researcher?

- What are the advantages of complete observation role?

- What are the advantages of the complete participation role?

- What were Randall Alfred’s key findings about the Satanists?

- What were Venkatesh’s key discoveries when he conducted field research on a gang of crack

dealers?

- What’s meant by the term “going native”?

- What is a “gatekeeper” in field research?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of field research?

- What are guidelines for conducting qualitative interviews during field research?

- What is meant by the term active listening?

- What are the key guidelines for taking notes during field research?

- What are the main rules for conducting focus groups?

- What are Kolbert’s main arguments about the use of focus groups in politics?

- Readings Responsible for: Chambliss and Schutt: Chapters 7 (pps. 164-185);

Levitt and Dubner (pps. 93-109); Kolbert (pp.18, 20-21, 60, 68, 72)

Introduction to Sociology - Paper Option 3

Paper Option 3: Introduction to Sociology:

Due: Thursday, April 30

Approximate Length: 4 - 5 pages

This paper requires you to analyze a social institution most of you are probably very familiar with – the workplace. While I obviously want you to talk about your own experiences, you also need to think more broadly about the place you work at. (You may also choose to analyze a former workplace as long as it hasn’t been more than two years since you worked there.)

For the paper you must do the following:

1) Describe your workplace and the job that you do there. Be sure to discuss the kind of tasks you are expected to perform at your job. (1/2 – 2/3 pages)

2) As discussed in class (and pages 89-93 in Schaefer), explain what Weber meant by the terms bureaucratization and rationalization. How bureaucratized is your workplace? (Is there a clearly stated hierarchy of authority? Is it impersonal?) In particular, how rationalized is your job? Do you always have to do your work duties in a very specific way? (For instance, if you work in retail, are you required to say the same thing to every customer?) Try to be as detailed as possible in your answer. (1 ½ pages – 2 ½ pages)

3) Do you think the level of bureaucratization and rationalization at your workplace is necessary? In other words, does it make you more productive and efficient at your job? Or, as in Office Space, does it hinder you from performing your job well? What about other workers? Just as significantly, does the level of bureaucratization and rationalization affect your enjoyment of your job? Does it affect your co-workers enjoyment of their jobs? (3/4 – 1 1/4 page)

4) Is your job unionized? If so, do you think that being in a union has been good or bad for you in terms of 1) pay and benefits and 2) your actual work experiences? If you do not belong to a union, do you believe that belonging to a union would 1) improve your pay and benefits and 2) improve your actual work experiences? Why or why not? In your opinion, what is the most important thing that could be done to improve your 1) your workplace and 2) your particular job? Explain. (1/2 – 1 page)

Intro to Sociology - Test 4 Outlines and Essay Questions

Capitalism and Work

- According to a conservative like Friedman, why is capitalism superior to feudalism?

- What is the key mechanism behind the smooth operation of the capitalist system? What

hinders the operation of the capitalist system?

- According to Marx, what are the key problems with capitalism?

- What do contemporary conflict theorists regard as the key problems with the global capitalist system?

- What is meant by the term externalities?

- What does Durkheim mean by the terms mechanical and organic solidarity?

- What does Weber envision as the future of work?

- According to Weber, what are the benefits and drawbacks of increased bureaucratization and

rationalization of the workplace? What did he mean when he talked about an “iron cage of

rationality”?

- According to Marx, what happens to the workers with the advent of capitalism?

- What are the two key aspects of Taylorism?

- What kind of agreement between labor and capital characterizes the period between WWII and the mid 1970s?

- According to conflict theorists, what are the reasons for the decline in the percentage of unionized

workers over the last 30-40 years?

- According to Lardner’s article, what are the main problems faced by contemporary workers?

- Over the last 25 years, what types of jobs have become more prevalent?

- According to Hochschild, what are the negative effects of excessive emotional labor on workers?

Outline: Government & Health Care

- What are basic beliefs of pluralists about the government and political power in the U.S?

- What are the central arguments of Domhoff’s power elite theory?

- According to Domhoff, what are the 3 key institutional activities dominated by the upper

class?

- What are the main arguments of structuralists?

- What two broad types of programs characterize the U.S. welfare state? What is the difference between means-tested programs and social insurance programs?

- What are conservatives’ key criticisms of the U.S. social welfare state?

- What is meant by the term “false consciousness”?

- Approximately how many people in the U.S. currently lack health insurance?

- Approximately how much money is spent on health care in the U.S. each year?

- What are generally cited as the reasons for the high cost of health care in the U.S?

- According to Klein, what are the central flaws with the American health care system?

- According to Angell, what are the reasons for the high profit rates of drug companies?

- What is the conflict perspective on legal drug use in contemporary American society?

ESSAY QUESTIONS FOR 4TH TEST

1. Compare and contrast the views of pluralists, Domhoff (specifically his power elite theory), and structuralists on the distribution of power in American society. In your opinion, which perspective most accurately describes the U.S. political system in the year 2009? What do conservatives regard as the main problems with the social welfare state? Do you believe the U.S. government should have bailed out banks and other financial institutions? Similarly, do you think that we should be spending 800 billion dollars on the stimulus plan? Defend your answer.

2. In Angell’s view, what are the reasons for the high profit rates of pharmaceutical companies? As discussed in class, what are the reasons for the high level of overall health care costs in the U.S.? In particular, what does Klein regard as the central flaws with the American health care system? Do you believe that the United States should adopt an universal health care system? Why or why not?

3. Explain the concept of Taylorism. According to Weber, what are the benefits and drawbacks of bureaucratization? Based on your impressions and personal experiences, as well as the movie Office Space, do you think Weber accurately captures the nature of contemporary bureaucratic workplaces? According to Hochschild, what are some of the possible costs individuals face due to the performance of excessive emotional labor? Do you believe that there are any feasible solutions to this problem? In particular, do you think higher unionization rates would help workers deal with emotional labor demands in many service sector jobs? Explain.

Responsible For Following Readings:

Schaefer: Chapter 3 (pages 82-83, 88-93); Chapter 9 (pages 240-249; 252-254);

Chapter 10 (pages 272-275); Lardner (pages 1-11); Domhoff: (pps. 26-29);

Franke-Ruta: (pps. a22-23); Klein (pps. 1-5)