Popular Cuture & Violence

Paper details:

Logistics: For this paper you will have five questions to address and I expect 250-300 words minimum on each question. Longer is fine. Please use the questions below as headings and create a document that can be uploaded to the drop-box. Use APA 6th edition style for citations (but please do not use a cover sheet) and include a section with complete references for the sources you cite at the end of your document. Your paper should be done in word or if you use another word processing software besides Microsoft, please save your paper as a PDF. It is your responsibility to create a paper that is formatted in a way that I can grade. You can reference the work that I have included and you can also bring in other sources. For the sources you add, please use reputable, attributed and reviewed sources. This means non-attributed blogs cannot be used as credible sources. If your point is to compare what is posted on types of blogs (non-attributed vs. authored and attributed blogs), use them, but they cannot stand on their own. And, cite them! Content: I have included a number of brief pieces below, that describe societal violence. Please read the overview and the articles before you begin writing. The overview and articles will help you frame your paper and you may add other articles – all properly cited. (attached with instructions) This is a reflection paper, not an opinion paper (though you are free to add your opinion when addressing the final 2 questions). It is NOT a persuasion paper. Our goal here is not to convince anyone of anything, but to deepen our understanding of the social phenomenon – violence in popular culture. You do not need to re-prove that violence exists, we start from a point that accepts this. Your objective in addressing the questions, is to learn more about how and why violence exists in popular culture and importantly to ponder and describe how society (both individuals and groups) is affected by the violence. Use the sources I have provided and add others as you reflect and comment on the questions. Your paper must address these questions – (1) Kaufman’s short description of violence from a sociological perspective lists different situations that manifest as violence and are studied by sociologists. These include political sociologists studying war, genocide, terrorism and state violence; criminologists researching violent crimes and the social conditions that bring them about; educational sociologists investigating bullying and violence in schools; feminist sociologists examining domestic violence against intimate partners and children; and social psychologists developing explanations for different types of violent acts. Consider the array of settings and situations in which violent acts are manifested and explain how the overarching social forces of influence and intimidation, power – both physical and economic – and privilege work. In other words, how do influence, intimidation, power and privilege support the various dimensions of violence we see in popular culture? (2) Robin Williams discusses justification and legitimacy as means of labeling violence that society essentially tells us is either okay or necessary. Provide examples of violence that are understood or explained (sometimes explained away) using the classifications of justification and legitimacy. (3) One of the major philosophical differences outlined in my overview is the contrasting views of why someone commits violent acts. As sociologists, we believe that people are capable of both compassion and violence and look to society as both the definer/labeler of violence (context) and by socialization, learning from environments that model violence (construction). Philosophical absolutists believe that the world is peopled by some people who are essentially good people and others who are essentially bad people. Select one of these theoretical standpoints and provide a supportive explanation for your choice. (This must go well beyond your opinion and will likely necessitate some research). (4) Based on your experiences and observations, do you see aspects of popular culture contributing to what some describe as a culture of violence? Explain your answer, yes or no with well-reasoned statements, examples, etc. Feel free to add your opinion here about the role (if any) popular culture plays in promoting violence, or is popular culture simply being blamed unfairly for a role in furthering violence in society? (5) Again considering your experiences and observations, does the level of violence (in so many aspects of popular culture and society) create an environment that desensitizes young people to violence? Yes, no, explain. And, does this environment contribute to an overall feeling of insecurity and fear? Yes, no, explain