Durkheims Theory: Summary, Critique and Analysis

Durkheims Theory: Summary, Critique and Analysis This review is The Rules of the Sociological Method by Durkheim. I will try to summarise the concepts of it and indicate some of objections of Durkheims position which I encountered in this article and will highlight as I go along. Durkheim states that the behaviour, phenomena and other societal dogma influence one to think, act, feel and react. Durkheim dedicated few fundamental elements such as the relationship between the individuals and society to the nature and social bond. He identified the two types of the societies into mechanical and organic societies. He distinguished them in terms of their shared beliefs, governing laws, level of individualism and social ills. According to Durkheims main theory of social fact existed even before we were born; and as a result a social fact is every way of acting, fixed or not, capable of exercising based on the individuals external constraint given by the society (p. 13). He added that social structures have a coercive power over the individual, which means that we are coerced into subsequent established rules of our society. According to Durkheim, social facts have main features such as: an external to the individual, coercive of the individual and not attached to any particular individual. The author argues that the basic norms of social facts as things to examine and understand. Durkheim is key thinker of social science and his theory and methods of was positivism (holism/whole), and he considers that social structures exist independently of the individual, and the individual agent does not play a huge role in the social fact. He emphasised that social facts exist outside the individuals, and the manifestation of the individuals is a social fact. He also suggested that society gives people a role to play based on their rationality and choices, therefore, society has made the individuals. Durkheim also suggested that belief existed since birth, and he gave his account on several inherent habits. It has been noticed that people are taught to be abided by certain obligation set by the society which termed as law and custom. The actions of individuals are totally connected with the education that one derives from his family or learnt through religion and customs of the society. Therefore, it is duty served by any individual by being a brother, mother, son or a h usband or as a citizen which are defined as the education and the obligation set by the society. This shows these concepts and expectations did not come from the individuals but from the social community. Although we might hold these normative community behaviours and share its values, we still constrained its existence. So, people have selected the social facts with conscious mind and their rationality. This means that people use their mind and brain to accept and follow the customs. However, in contrary to our modern day people are more rational and use their own autonomy and choice based on their own desires and will. Therefore, they rebel the norms and customs. In this sense, Durkheim sat the social level apart from psychology, and he insists that sociology and psychology are different. Psychology and Sociology goes hand in hand. Since people use their mind, brain to select their desires around them as well as their rationality. Durkheim referred understanding of the social fact belongs to sociology and its different from biology and psychology. In this sense, both discipline affects human growth, their rationality, choices and relationships. If he used consciousness/unconsciousne ss, and the effects of the emotions, how can he spate the sociology and psychology? This is the gap that needs to be considered. Hence, the thoughts and the ideas that are controlling ones behaviour is not developed by any individuals, rather they are enforced by some outside power and are penetrated on the character of the individual. In our modern day, a constant constraint has been developed to make people aware that they are not only dependent upon themselves neither on the societal norms and customs, but law and legislations sat. In the past century, the social norms could not be challenged or denied. People consider the norms are important and those failed to follow can either formally or informally can be sanctioned through the law and legislation, or by the communities as social control. They get excluded and shamed them. However, this is no longer valid. In his century, people considered norms are vital and those failed to follow can either formally or informally can be sanctioned through the law/ legislation, or by the communities. They get ashamed, isolation and excluded. However, this is no longer valid. People resist against religion and norms, and they dont face punishments . For stance, marriage were very crucial: husband and wife and children via verse, and every individual expected to follow. However, today, all those are no longer essential, and whether an individual is one gender or another; or same sex marriage, bisexual or belong to LGB are acceptable now. Conventions, on the other hand, are made by society to make people decide between the right and wrong, even if they are totally baseless. It has been analysed that if one tries to violate the rules set by the society, it acts against him and make him completely helpless to stand on his grounds. Furthermore, the society will ask him to anticipate his action if there is still time existed. In an alternative case, the society tries to nullify the action if it is considered to be reversible or make him pay a penalty if the action cannot be repaired. The restriction set by society causes an infringement in moral laws and ethics, special punishments are enforced to provide a check on the behaviour of the citizens which is seen a form of deterrence, p.2) However, there are some breach that goes against the ordinary convention of the society and treated less violently. Eventually, it has been examined that there are certain individuals who try to successfully break the rules forcing one to fight against them. Even if the forces of the society are overcome, they impose the power of virtue and moral constraints that will drive them to act and feel externally. They exercise control over the individuals and let them function the way they like. The actions represented by the society should not be confused with the organic and the physical phenomenon that does not exist in the human conscious mind. There are certain facts in the society which are termed to be really social as it is used without any clarity and accuracy in the society. The social facts generally cover the entire phenomenon and the occurrence within the society with the presence of little social interest of the people. Societies see each of the functions differently and are judged differently by all. His example on (p. 6), on constrain and convention, as he used an example of the outset of a childs life. I believe the growing process of every child is similar to any given society. Although, he concentrated in France. Children learn through role modelling and imitations. Therefore, one may argue the existence of the external power which Durkheim believes is coercive forces which shapes them, merely is temporary, and its rather can be general influences till child reaches a certain age. If they reach the ages of maturity, they can rebel and resist some of these norms and customs, as we experienced today. In accordance, the term social has gathered a new meaning that is the factor on which individualism depends on. The social fact that existed in the well-defined society has emerged as the new form that contains the same objectivity controlling the behaviour of the individual. Society creates a profound impact on the emotions and feelings of the individual so once the community of the society breaks up, it fails to influence the feelings of the individuals and fails to enforce its power on them. The feelings and the experiences that people faced while being exposed to the harsh system of the society are completely dissimilar to that experience while being alone. In this respect the law of society draws every harmless individual to its wicked and cruel act when they are exposed to the crowd and let people get introduced to the religious, political and the artistic matters that are constantly surrounding them. Form the very beginning of growing stage of the child, he is taught the way to eat, sleep in regular hours and maintain cleanliness, which is later observed as a power or force to mend his ways to become a respectable individual of the society. This gradually gives rise to tendencies and habits that forms the inner and outer characteristics of the indi vidual. The pressure of the society and the environment to which one is subjected to, helps to shape ones personality and behaviour since childhood. Conclusion: Even though, the concept of the individual agent is strictly limited, still there are ways of thinking, acting, feeling which external power of coercion to the individual is. However, this is mental controlling to the individuals and enforcing them to abide by, regardless of their mental capacity and rationality. Therefore, one can say there is no way that one can detach or separate sociology from psychology. He also viewed an individual is tool and contributes little to the sociological knowledge. There are some premises are justified, however society evolved and transformed. Therefore, his argument are not fully compelling, when you look at other theories which makes a lot more sense. His clarification is functional but limited. The author failed to consider other possibility of the future change overtime. Therefore, there are many transformation took place now. Due to lack of integrations and technologies on his century, he failed to reflect on other societies which might happened to be different from France, such Europe and the global in general. Therefore, historical diversity is limited. The gap is not only the weakness of his argument it rather lacks the awareness of other societies outside France, which show the weaknesses of his premises, which not fully convincing. Reference: E. Durkheim, The Rule of Sociological Method, (New York: The Free Press, 1938. Ch.1.

Spike Lee Pride and Prejudice :: essays papers

Spike Lee Pride and Prejudice Anyone who would dismiss Spike Lee as a racist is confusing pride with prejudice. Sure, he's abrasive, blunt, unvarnished and maybe egotistical. But he's also got the self-confidence, fearlessness and knowledge of his personal mission that in past years, and some parts of Idaho today, would have gotten him called an uppity N-word, maybe worse. This reaction to him, to him in America today, and on our campus this week, is an illustration of how far whites (yes, whites) in this nation have not come. Lee makes films about various aspects of the African-American experience in America. His debut in 1986, "She's Gotta Have It," was about the man problems and prevails of a young black woman in the big city. "Do the Right Thing," his 1989 incitement of racial strife was a warning flag of urban angers a full three years before the L.A. Riots. "Malcolm X" was a stirring bio-pic about the slain black leader who preached a strident brand of self reliance in an age when most said looking to the government for help was the last best hope of African-Americans. It was also the best film biography since "Gandhi." "Gandhi" may be the best bio-pic ever. Are other filmmakers, like Martin Scorsese or Oliver Stone criticized for telling stories about exclusively white protagonists? Does anyone wave the flag of racism when Woody Allen makes his 100th film about neurotic Jewish men in New York? No, and they shouldn't. Creators work on what they know. The very fact that Lee is labeled and thought of as the "black filmmaker" is an illustration of just how right Lee is when he talks about the largely lily-white nature of Hollywood, and the nation it entertains. And a lot of what he has said, even the supposedly racist comments, have plucked a tone of truth in areas where, frankly, most whites would prefer the strings go unplucked. His most famous comment, that blacks by definition cannot be racist, was right. When he said that, he was talking about institutional racism (a fact adroitly cut from most news accounts of his comments). Blacks, by definition, can't be institutionally racist. They simply don't have the power. Maybe someday they will, but now, you can't point to any institution, and very few corporations, in which African-Americans have enough power to even exercise the thought of implementing institutional racism.

Comparing The Cask of Amontillado and The Interlopers Essay -- compari

Comparing The Cask of Amontillado and The Interlopers    Literary devices are tools used by the author to help the reader understand a given literary work. Writers use different literary devices depending on their style and what they wish their reader to get out of their work. One important literary device that is essential for a successful literary work is theme. Theme is the general insight into life that the author shares with the reader. There are a number of different methods from which an author can choose to present his/her theme. One common strategy is to communicate the theme through the use of mood; the overall feeling or emotion conjured within the reader. In Edgar Allan Poe's short story, "The Cask of Amontillado," and in Saki's short story, "The Interlopers," the mood evoked within the reader is used to communicate the short story's overall theme. The mood established by Edgar Allan Poe in his short story, "The Cask of Amontillado," plays a crucial role in conveying to the reader his underlying theme. For example, when Montresor, the narrator, st...

Muslim People Post 9/11

Muslim people in American post 9/11 Since the 9/11 attacks, many Americans have labeled Muslims in the United States as a threat to our country due to the fact that they share their religion with the extremists responsible for worldwide terrorism. Due to the recent conflicts between the US and Muslim, the Muslims that live in America continue to face isolation and danger because of their faith. Muslim people have gotten worse treatment after 9/11 in the United States in several places which are schools, work places and communities.First; The Muslim students had gotten a worse treatment in schools from the American student and teachers. The Muslim students got lot of hate threats from students in class. Like One the American student was making fun young lady who was wearing hijab. And the teachers can give the Muslim students a low grade for no reason because they are a Muslims. Teachers meant to talk about 9/11 to let the Muslims student felt uncomfortable in the class. In the school hallway American student beat and give them a dirty looks the Muslims student.And how they keep told them that they are a terrorist. Second; at a time of growing tensions involving Muslims in the United States, a record number of Muslim workers are complaining of employment differentiation, from coworkers calling them â€Å"terrorist† to employers barring them from wearing head scarves (Hijab) or taking prayer breaks. And some of the Muslims people don’t get a job because they think that they will do something danger in the work place.And the Muslims worker got in lots of problems from other employees so they can got fired. Third; Muslims people got a worse treatment after 9/11 in the communities. Especially hijabe women are who wear scarf on their heads they have to force a lot of hate and bad treatments like they pulled their head scarf. And the Muslims people got afraid to go out the house so they don’t get worse treatment and get beat from the Americans peo ple. I conclude that the Muslims people have gotten worse treatment right after post 9/11 in the United States.In several places which are the schools from the student and the teachers which that make the Muslim student unconvertible in the schools, work places, and Muslims people got the worse treatment from the other employees and the mangers, And the communities. If one Muslim person did something wrong and destroyed the name of Islam. That’s doesn’t mean all the Muslims people are the same. And they thought that Muslims people are Terrorist. But you can’t judge the people from their religion.

Prose Notes on “Berry” Essay

Berry is about a young black man called Millberry Jones who is employed at Dr. Renfield’s Home for Crippled Children. He was reluctantly employed by Mrs. Osborn, the housekeeper, because the Scandinavian kitchen boy had left without notice, leaving her no choice in hiring Berry. Her reluctance to hire Berry stemmed from his race, which initiated questions such as where he would sleep, as well as how the other employees would react to the presence of a Negro. She had a meeting with Dr. Renfield and they decided to hire Millberry on a reduced salary. He was overworked and underpaid, but took solace in the children whom he loved. An unfortunate incident occurred, however, where a child fell from his wheel chair while in the care of Berry. The result was that Berry was fired and given no salary for the week that he had worked. SETTING †¢Dr. Renfiled’s Home for Crippled Children †¢New Jersey coast CHARACTERS Millbury Jones (Berry) †¢A Black male, approximately 20 years old. †¢Described as good natured and strong. †¢Poor and uneducated. †¢Very observant and intuitive about people and places. †¢Very good with children due to his gentleness. Mrs. Osborn †¢The housekeeper at the children’s home. †¢Rumoured to be in love with Dr. Renfield. †¢Very high handed with her staff, but docile with Dr. Renfield. †¢Displays racist characteristics in subtle forms. Dr. Renfield †¢Rumoured to have romantic affairs with his female staff. †¢Berry observes that the Home is ‘Doc Renfield’s own private gyp game’ (Hughes, p. 162), meaning that he runs his establishment for his own profit, instead of a desire to take genuine care of the children. †¢He is blatantly racist. THEMES Racism This theme is apparent when Berry was being considered for employment at the Home. Mrs. Osborn was concerned about where Berry would sleep, implying that he could not sleep with the white servants because he was considered to be beneath them. His salary was also cut due to his race, and he was overworked, with no discussions of days off, ‘everybody was imposing on him in that taken-for-granted way white folks do with Negro help.’ (Hughes, 162). Even more importantly, when the unfortunate accident occurred with the child, there was no attempt at discerning what led to the incident, but blame was laid on the obvious person – Berry. As a result, he was relieved of his job in a hail of racist slurs.

Homeland Security Essay

Homeland Security is a cabinet level agency in the federal government. Its birth came after the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. Its main goals were to deter terrorism on U. S. soil and the safety of the American infrastructure. It has been reported many times the trouble this department is having getting off the ground. â€Å"Hardly a day goes by without some fresh report on a contract gone bad, a new technology that does not work, a new Coast Guard cutter that is not seaworthy, or more cargo that slips through port without inspection† (Light, 2007). Every year new assessments of the department including Congress, the 9/11 Commission and the departments own inspector general gives it low grades for job satisfaction, management, and leadership. Just some of the problems it is having are high turnover, internal bureaucratic struggles and structural problems. So with all that said it is having problems reaching many of its outlined goals. It still needs funding, authority, better strategy for protecting American soil, personnel, better screening at airports for passengers and employees, and better technology to find weapons such as explosives. Improved intelligence capabilities are probably the most important. Border security issues were the founding fathers main focus when he was with the agency and I am in agreement. Securing our countries boarders on a daily basis is the Homeland security’s main concern. The military that has done that job up until now but with the world being global we need to separate the two and give each their own set of ground rules to operate at an optimum level. The merging of immigration and customs enforcement can only help in making this department function at a level the American public can be proud of with the goals of this office being completed (Magleby, O’Brien, Light, Peltason, & Cronin, 2006). Even with all its imperfections I still believe that it is a needed department in our government. A somewhat more rigid department to handle military type action on homeland soil was needed and was realized on 9/11. We had been living in a glass house and it was just a matter of time. The partnership it is creating with state and local governments especially with intelligence from federal sources will build a safer America. After the disaster of Katrina in 2005 it was more obvious that this newly formed department would need some redesign in its structure. But I think with having Homeland Security it will help to build a better military. This would allow more forces to be deployed outside our borders when needed. I think now if Homeland Security had been up to par, would we still be in Iraq or would the troops the Republicans so desperately want to send be there and back by now? Reference: Light, P. (2007, Spring). The homeland security hash. Wilson Quarterly, 31(2). Magleby, D. B. , O’Brien, D. , Light, P. , Peltason, J. W. , & Cronin, T. E. (2006). Government by the People: National, State, and Local 21st. Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

In 1930-1935, Max Dupain created a black and white photograph titled Eggs Essays

In 1930-1935, Max Dupain created a black and white photograph titled Eggs Essays In 1930-1935, Max Dupain created a black and white photograph titled Eggs Essay In 1930-1935, Max Dupain created a black and white photograph titled Eggs Essay Max Dupain focuses intensely on the establishing the perfect lighting technique to create the right mood and texture that the eggs appear to possess. Using the shy but strong light source he highlights the eggs fragility and delicacy. He has also used high contrasts of black and white to better differentiate the diverse, opposing colours and tones, generally, the blacks and the whites. Dupain positions the eggs in a way to create a patterned shadow to reveal more of the precise detail gone into the making of the artwork. With the remarkable positioning of the eggs, Dupain has also placed the eggs on harsh, abrasive wooden boards, to further place emphasis on the insubstantial texture of the eggs. As a final point, Dupain has used, in particular, the lighting, high contrast and positioning of the eggs as techniques to expose the eggs to their highest point. With all these techniques and methods, he has taken a bunch of everyday objects like the cup and egg to give help us form a whole new perspective on it with the careful control of the image. In the foreground of the painting steadily lays five randomly-positioned chalky white eggs. Their flawlessness and polished surface is achieved by the well-planned lighting and the contrast of the two different textures. Their shadow creates a pattern similar to that of a cloud. This effect makes the eggs appear even more small, frail and light because they appear to drifting on the cloud. To the top left of the eggs is a small, round cup, with no handles. The opening of the cup is relatively the same size of an egg. The crisp shadow of the cup is stretched out to reach one of the eggs, suggesting a feel of connection between the egg and the cup. The eggs and cup are both placed on a series of wooden planks. The wooden boards are rough, coarse and callused, and the eggs are unblemished and brittle. These two conflicting textures appear so contrasted next to each other, their texture is more accentuated because they both appear so varied. The diagonal planks of wood also appear as a form of leading lines, as their diagonal positioning leads to the eggs. The connection between the eggs and the wood are emphasized by the patterned shadows. Around the top two corners, the tone is very dark, and most of the area is covered by black. The high viewpoint is quite unique to what we normally see with most artworks. This may be because they want to get the shadows and their strength in well to associate with the rest of the other objects. This high viewpoint also helps us to communicate more with the object, because he is exposing the subject more as he reveals the whole and larger image with the viewpoint. More ground is covered with that viewpoint rather than what we would see in a normal picture, with the lower, straight on viewpoint. The tones in the artwork are very contrasted, they are all very different from one another. Because of the lighting, the tones are sharper, stronger but look atmospheric. There are a range of tones, but the main two are obvious, clearly stated within the eggs and cup and the shadows and the darkness of the table boards. The tones also help to achieve the effect of purity of the eggs, because of the distinction between the lighter and the darker tones. There is a limited amount of colour in this photograph. They contribute to the contrast of the blacks and whites and appear organic and natural. The eggs are of a warm, china-white colour, creamy colour. The greys and browns promoted by the table have a staggering effect on the eggs. Each colour brings out the next because they are all very unalike. They do, however, blend into one another, yet strive to distinguish. The lines in the photo are very fine and minute, particularly covering the eggs, adding to the fine, delicacy of their appearance. The lines are not as dominating as the colours are. Max Dupain has not focused as much on the accuracy and positioning of the lines as he has with the lighting, and highly contrasting colours and tones, etc. The shapes in Dupains photo are curved, oval and rotund. Mainly due to the shapes of the eggs and cups and their shadows. However, the rectangular shape of the wooden planks also, again contrast to the shapes of the eggs. There is much contrasting and differentiating with the two opposite textures, shapes, colours and tones of the eggs and the table. The shadows formed by the eggs are patterned. The constant curved shape and bump of the egg makes the shadow appear continual and ongoing, symbolising eternity, perhaps. The eggs are placed in front, closest to the viewer and the cup is directly above it, closer to the background. The light has been accurately and cleverly used and planned so that the end product really reveals its intended effect. The light source is from behind the cup and eggs, used to create the sharp shadows. The eggs and cup are proportioned to be of similar size. The perspective of the artwork is higher, from normal artworks to fit the image intended within. This photograph has been evenly balanced. The heavy, strong dark shadows in the left hand side, particularly in the top balance out with the multiple eggs and their shadows. The focal point of the artwork would be the eggs. The diagonal wood planks lead toward it and so does the shadow from the cup. I think the artwork symbolises a variety of different moods and emotional issues. It is all really based on Max Dupains strive to change the view of an everyday object into a more sophisticated and appealing image. The photograph helps to expand on its original image into a photo of simplicity and originality to create a mood of serenity and tranquillity. This photograph changes and twists everyday objects to help form our respect for them. Max Dupain also tries to bring out the effect of how eggs can also be a form of life. Suggested by how the human life starts, Dupain tries to accumulate a feel for what eggs can also mean, besides breakfast. I think the way he has really dramatically distorted our image of an egg is what is best about this photograph. I think the artwork is surprisingly, unsuccessful. Despite my high opinions of it, I think the majority of people think of this artwork as just a bunch of eggs with a cup on a table. To me, it means much more and that much more effort and work has been done to create what the end result is. Although some might agree with me, the majority dont. Nobody would be as interested in it for the pure reason of it being tedious and pointless; my more negative and superficial opinion. When I first saw the photograph, I had a more bland and shallow idea of it than what I think about it now. I just thought of it as a more plain and simple photograph. After analysing and studying it, it appealed to me more and I saw it as a more meaningful and original photo than I had before. The artwork makes me feel stable, calm and pleasant. The picture is appealing and creates an effect of calmness so it is the general mood I experience. The objects within the picture seem to communicate with the viewer, all characterised by all the techniques used by Dupain. The painting reminds me of how looks can everyday stereotypes can be deceiving and how somethings whole image can be changed, with just a little focus and concentration. The eggs symbolise, to me five delicate, fragile, lives in search for its meaning.